Phishing and how to avoid it

Phishing emails are becoming an ever bigger problem inside and outside the University. These emails contain links to password forms or an attachment that looks like something else.

The world of cybercrime has moved on, the bad guys don’t need to hack us any more – they can get in using passwords from phishing emails.

Be on your guard to avoid being caught like this and check:

1. Is it a ‘generic’ email not sent specifically to you?
2. Are some scare tactics involved? E.g. you must do something quickly to avoid something unpleasant.
3. Does the email contain a link that doesn’t include ‘lincoln.ac.uk\’?
4. Were you expecting a document as an attachment from someone you know? If not ASK them before you open it.

If you’re in ANY doubt DON’T click the link or open the attachment! Contact the ICT Service Desk via support.lincoln.ac.uk and ask us.

ICT spends huge amounts of time dealing with phishing instead of working on improving University ICT so it’s in everybody’s interest to take a few seconds and think when opening an email.