Sent: 2023-11-03
From: EIU
To: Various Recipients
Subject: Phishing Attacks
Opportunistic attackers are attempting to use phishing techniques to access EIU resources, email accounts, and workstations. Phishing is the use of an email or communication - often appearing to come from a person or company you know, sometimes even with credible and familiar-looking logos or headers - to trick you into providing sensitive personal information.
Following these guidelines can help you not get phished:
• Do not click links within the email. When possible, type the URL into your web browser.
• Remember: EIU will never ask for your password in an email or on a Google Form.
• Never send a password in an email.
• Do not download and open attachments you are not expecting.
• A frequent format used by phishers is a fellow student requesting information or telling you about an opportunity.
• When in doubt, call the person from whom the email came.
• If it is an official EIU message, there will be a verification link. Verify by going to this website: https://www.eiu.edu/verify
How to spot a phishing message:
• The message’s email address does not match the company that supposedly sent it.
• The message has a generic greeting.
• Poor grammar and spelling.
• When hovering over a link within the email, it doesn’t match the company that sent it.
• The message has a sense of urgency.
• The message makes promises of financial gain.
• Your supervisor will communicate from their official EIU email address. Communications from your 'supervisor' asking for your cell phone to complete a task are almost always phishing attempts.
If you feel you have fallen for a phishing attack, immediately change your password: go to https://password.eiu.edu, log in, and choose the reset password option.
Recognized a phishing attempt? Please forward the message to phishing@eiu.edu and then delete the message. Another option while using Outlook Web or desktop is to click “Junk” and choose the “phishing” option.
If you have questions about a potential phishing email or have other questions, contact the EIU User Services Help Desk at 217-581-4357.
For more information: https://www.eiu.edu/panthertech/kb/000/kb00000011.php
Thank you,
Aaron B. Allison, GSEC - Information Security
Information Technology Services | Eastern Illinois University
217.581.1939 | Office365 Teams: aballison | www.eiu.edu/panthertech
