Wagner College is proud to participate in Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an annual initiative designed to promote the importance of cybersecurity and empower individuals and organizations to stay safe online. This campaign, "Protect, Educate, Secure, Thrive," focuses on providing practical tips to enhance cybersecurity awareness and protect against cyber threats.
Throughout the month of October, the Wagner College Information Technology department will share resources and tips to ensure you stay protected when using technology whenever and however you connect.
Educate Yourself and Others | Knowledge is Power
Tip 1: Be Wary of Phishing
In today's digital age, phishing scams have become a pervasive and ever-evolving threat to our online security. Don’t get hooked! Learn how to spot phishing attempts, and never click on suspicious links or download unknown attachments. Phishing emails are designed to trick you into revealing sensitive information or downloading malware.
Tip 2: How to Spot Phishing Scams
Here are some steps to help you avoid falling for phishing scams:
- Be Skeptical: Always be cautious when receiving unsolicited emails, especially if they ask for personal information or contain urgent requests.
- Verify the Sender: Check the sender's email address carefully. Be cautious of misspelled or slightly altered email addresses that mimic legitimate ones.
- Verify the Message: Look for telltale signs of phishing, such as poor grammar, spelling errors, and generic greetings like "Dear Customer" instead of your name.
- Don't Share Personal Information: Legitimate organizations won't ask for sensitive information (e.g., passwords, Social Security numbers, or credit card details) via email.
- Use a Spam Filter: Enable and regularly check your email spam filter to catch potentially malicious emails.
- Report Phishing: If you receive a phishing email, report it to Wagner College’s IT Department Help Desk: helpdesk@wagner.edu.
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers a resource on how to outsmart hackers by following three simple tips to identify phishing scams.
