The Friday Afternoon Dilemma
Dec 14, 2023
Hooray for the last day of the week, the weekend is almost upon us. With everyone looking forward to a break and whatever fun plans they may have, malicious actors realize that people's guards are down and are less vigilant when it comes to phishing, vishing, and other scams that are in a malicious actor's wheelhouse. Friday is the end of the work week but remember to be vigilant in monitoring security threats because malicious actors are still afoot and are more likely to send a threat when they think your guard is down and your mind is elsewhere.
If you fall for one of the Friday afternoon attacks, report the incident to the Service Desk right away. Necessary steps can then be taken to ensure sensitive data isn’t breached and university resources are protected.
Keep an eye out for:
- Phishing
- Holiday scams
- Urgent phone calls* or texts impersonating your loved ones or boss asking for secure information or money
- Urgent requests to purchase gift cards outside of the university’s procurement processes
- Rushing emails; always take a moment to double check that you’re sending it to the correct recipient. This is especially important if you’re sending an email with an attachment, link, or private information
Stay vigilant and enjoy the weekend knowing your data and the university’s data are secure.
*Scammers will use targeted calls pretending to be someone you know or a loved one who has been in an accident or has a bad connection. They will then ask you for personal information such as credit cards, social security numbers, etc. to receive help. Always verify the caller is who they say they are before giving over any personal and secure information.
