University email accounts have been under siege from spam emails asking students and faculty for personal information. As part of National Cyber Securities Awareness Month, the University is taking steps to counter these online threats and educate students about how to discern between spam and legitimate mail.
National Cyber Securities Awareness Month is described by the Department of Homeland Security as “designed to engage and educate public and private sector partners through events and initiatives to raise awareness about cybersecurity.” The event coincides with University broadcast emails about phishing.
In addition to attacks on the University, hackers disrupted major websites across the United States Friday. Throughout Friday afternoon, websites such as Twitter, Netflix, Spotify, Reddit and SoundCloud were sporadically inaccessible, primarily on the East Coast, according to the New York Times.
The University Information Technology Services Department has many resources about online safety. University IT Communications and Planning officer Sheri Thompson said the IT Security Office will help students verify legitimate-looking emails.
“When in doubt, throw it out,” Thompson said.
The emails that have plagued University servers in recent weeks are known as phishing emails. These appear more legitimate than traditional spam, asking for things such as personal information to pay an overdue bill.
The University Division of Strategic Communications sent out a broadcast email Friday warning students and faculty about phishing attacks. They advised students to monitor their bank accounts and report any unusual changes.
“No LSU department is ever going to call or email you and ask for your PAWS credentials or demand you pay a bill over the phone,” Thompson said.