UM Today | Information Services and Technology
October 14, 2022 —
Cyber Security Awareness Month is an important time to reflect as individuals and as an organization on how we can protect ourselves and our loved ones online. Phishing is one of the most common cyber threats affecting Canadians. That’s why we want to help our university community learn more about phishing and protect ourselves and the people in our lives.
Knowing how to spot a phishing message can be difficult if you’re not sure what characters to look for. After all, cyber criminals are adept at tricking their victims into revealing sensitive information.
Therefore, the best way to combat phishing is to arm yourself with knowledge. Understanding phishing and the signs to look out for will help you protect your personal information from potential cybercriminals.
Various forms of phishing
Most people are familiar with phishing emails or messages. But there are other types of phishing scams worth knowing about:
smishingis a phishing attempt via SMS (text message).
spearfishingis a hyper-targeted phishing attempt. Spear phishing scams aim to make a message sound like it came from a source you personally know.
whalingis a phishing attempt aimed at a high-profile target. For example, they might target a senior executive or other high-ranking official in an organization or government department.
spoofinginvolves creating a fake website to trick someone into sharing their personal information.
More information on phishing and other cyber threats can be found here GetCyberSafe.ca.
Visual signs of a phishing message
The best way to protect yourself from phishing is to recognize the signs and always be cautious when you receive a suspicious message. Some visual signs to look out for are:
Typing error, This includes incorrect sender email addresses, links that do not lead to official websites, and spelling or grammatical errors, apart from the occasional typo.
Unprofessional design such as incorrect or fuzzy logos, image-only emails, and emails with poor formatting.
Suspicious attachments like receiving attachments you didn’t ask for, strange file names, and unusual file types (like an .exe).
Other signs of phishing can take longer to identify because they are not always obvious. They include:
Urgent or threatening language
Real emergencies don’t happen over email. Cyber criminals will often pressure you to act quickly by using threats. For example, they may tell you they are going to close your account or take legal action against you.
Requests for Confidential Information
Most legitimate organizations like the government or your bank would never ask you for personal information via email or SMS. Be suspicious of links that take you to login pages and requests to update your account or financial information.
Everything too good to be true
Winning a competition is unlikely, but winning a competition you haven’t entered is impossible. Cyber criminals may send you suspicious offers, e.g. B. Winnings from giveaways that you have never entered or prizes that you have to pay to receive.
Cyber Security Awareness Month activities
To learn more about phishing and other cyber threats, visit our Cyber Security Awareness Month booth on October 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Brodie Center and October 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m :00 p.m. at the University Center
Don’t miss your chance to win! Join the #UMcybersecurityawareness Month scavenger hunt and enter to win an iPhone 14 Pro Max and more. Find out how to play at: https://news.umanitoba.ca/umcybersecurityawareness-month-scavenger-hunt-starts-now/
Remember: cyber security starts with you!