Email safety – please be aware of email targeting

We have been alerted to malicious emails currently targeting staff and students.

These emails can take a variety of formats and can include links to malicious websites which try to trick you into entering your credentials or attachments which will perform the same function when opened.

Malicious attachments are also being used to deliver ransomware which can cause significant data loss.

You should only ever open email attachments received from trusted sources and hover your mouse over (or long press on a tablet/phone) any internet links to check that the destination is what you would expect to see. You should do the same on the sender name to ensure that the display name has not been spoofed.

If you believe you have received one of these emails, please report the email using the guidance in our how-to guide, without clicking on any links or opening any attachments.

You can also report them directly to ICT by emailing them to ict.servicedesk@solent.ac.uk, or if you are staff raise a ticket via unity.solent.ac.uk .

If you believe your account has been compromised, please reset your University password through the password self-service portal and run a virus scan on your machine as soon as possible.

On university Windows 10 laptops this can be done by right-clicking the Windows Defender 'shield' symbol on the taskbar and then selecting 'Run Quick Scan'.

While ICT have implemented several systems to defend against such attacks, it is important that staff and students remain vigilant when receiving e-mails and report any suspicious items.

Junk or malicious?

How to tell the difference.

Junk

No need to report - simply delete.

• Usually in 'Junk' folder
• Marketing campaigns sent in bulk
• Unsolicited mail or subscribed from a previous purchase or one of their third parties

Malicious

Help us keep you safe - please report these ones!

• Claims to be someone they are not
• Not addressed correctly
• Unexpected URL
• Sounds too good to be true
• Offers a monetary gain or prize
• Requires your credentials or financial information – Never give this away!
• Runs malicious programs from attachments