A Staff Senate meeting was held last week to raise awareness about cybersecurity and how to recognize phishing emails.  We all should be mindful of cyberattacks when opening emails, using public networks, and setting up online accounts.  Here at IET, we wanted to take this opportunity to share an important lesson with the rest of the VWCC faculty and staff that we learned recently.

There was a phishing email sent recently to a wide audience of recipients, and one of them actually clicked the hyperlink inside the phishing email, which caused another batch of phishing emails that were then sent to contacts within that user’s Outlook. While we have taken steps to address this issue and protect our users, it is a reminder of the importance of remaining aware and vigilant against cyberattacks.

This recent incident also underscores the importance of being cautious when clicking on links or providing personal information online. The phishing email used a fake SharePoint site to trick users into entering their credentials, which were then harvested and used to send more phishing emails to others. It is essential to verify the authenticity of any link or website before interacting with it.

Because these cyberattacks are increasing in frequency and deception, we are going to increase our efforts to remind you to practice common sense habits when opening any emails you may receive.  We encourage everyone to read our IET bulletins for current cybersecurity news and to stay informed about the latest threats and how to protect themselves.

In conclusion, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and we must all work together to maintain the security of our systems and data. Let us continue to be vigilant and take proactive measures to prevent cyberattacks.

Sincerely,
Chris Cummings
IET Help Desk Manager