Filter by:
Scam of the Month: Important Payroll Message
This month, we’re focusing on a particularly tricky scam. This one isn’t tricky because it’s complex on its surface; it actually relies on simplicity and brevity to lure in its victims. This scam mimics an important notification to trick recipients into handing over sensitive login information. It contains many hallmarks of a typical phish, but […]
Scam of the Month: Ukraine Donation Scam
This month, we’re focusing on another scam that preys on your emotions and altruistic intentions. This time, it involves cybercriminals taking advantage of fundraising for Ukraine. In just one week, legitimate fundraising for Ukraine mobilized more than $50 million in cryptocurrency. That kind of success always attracts opportunists who want their cut. This time, they’re […]
Increased Risk of State-Sponsored Cyberattacks as Russia Invades Ukraine
The threat of state-sponsored cyberattacks increasingly accompanies international relations. Russia has developed and demonstrated its capacity to attack and inflict damage using cyber-warfare tactics. With news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many cybersecurity professionals are recommending increased vigilance during this period of unrest. While much of the responsibility for anticipating and preventing cyberattacks of this […]
InfoSec Alert: Update Google Chrome Immediately to Address Zero-Day Vulnerability
Earlier this week, a member of Google’s threat analysis group discovered a vulnerability in Google Chrome that would allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or corrupt data on impacted machines. Google released a fix for this exploit soon after, and all Chrome users should be sure to update their browsers immediately. Chrome should update each […]
Scam of the Month: COVID Omicron Phishing
Security researchers are warning of an uptick in phishing attacks targeting universities themed around COVID, Omicron, and testing information. These attackers seek to steal valuable information and often have the goal of tricking users into handing over their university (or other) log-in credentials. Below, you will find an example of a phishing message using Omicron […]
Scam of the Month: Direct Deposit Phishing Scam Impersonating University Leadership
Members of the WashU community are receiving phishing emails impersonating university leadership, including Chancellor Martin and Dean Perlmutter. These messages request changes to direct deposit information due to suspicious activity. Phishing scams often impersonate people in leadership positions to encourage a heightened sense of urgency in the recipient. Additionally, information about leaders is publicly available […]
InfoSec Alert: Critical Security Updates for Apple Devices
Apple recently released a critical software update for all Apple devices designated iOS 14.8, macOS Big Sur 11.6, and watchOS 7.6.2. Apple issued these emergency updates in response to reports that “zero-click” spyware has been discovered on their devices. Users can update their own devices using the following steps (please note that download times may […]
Scam of the Month—August 2021
The Office of Information Security has received reports of a SMiShing campaign targeting students at our institution. SMiShing occurs when cybercriminals use tactics common to phishing campaigns in text messages, attempting to communicate legitimacy to the unsuspecting victim. The reported SMiShing attempt is posted below. The message sender is posing as someone in a position […]
Phishing Alert: SMiShing Detected on Campus
The Office of Information Security has received reports of a SMiShing campaign targeting students at our institution. SMiShing occurs when cybercriminals use tactics common to phishing campaigns in text messages, attempting to communicate legitimacy to the unsuspecting victim. The reported SMiShing attempt is posted below. The message sender is posing as someone in a position […]
Scam of the Month—July 2021
Before we get to our Scam of the Month for July, we wanted to take a minute to say thanks to one of our readers who took the time to reach out and provide some additional clues from last month’s column. Here is a link to our post from last month: https://informationsecurity.wustl.edu/scam-of-the-month-june-2021/ Our reader points out […]
Scam of the Month—June 2021
In each issue of the newsletter, we will feature, discuss, and dissect a scam that has appeared on our campus. These scams are “real” attempts to infiltrate our systems and/or gain access to sensitive and personal information of individuals in our community. By sharing these examples with our readers, we hope to enhance your awareness […]
Phishing Alert: Tax Scam Targeting Educational Institutions
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a warning today (Tuesday, March 30, 2021) about an ongoing impersonation scam targeting educational institutions. Faculty, students and staff with email addresses ending in .edu are primary targets for this scam. How this Scam Works This criminal scam attempts to capture personal information from recipients by prompting them to […]
Phishing Alert: Credential Phishing Detected on Campus
The Office of Information Security received a reported phishing message that contains a dangerous credential phishing scam. This malicious email states that there is a document available in OneDrive, but that the recipient will need to follow a link in the email to sign in and see it. Unsuspecting victims who type their credentials into […]
InfoSec Alert: Social Security Vishing on Campus
Our office received a report of a vishing (fraudulent phone call) attack targeting a WashU student. In the attack, the caller claimed that the student’s social security number had been associated with overseas drug-trafficking activity. Another popular Vishing campaign involves impersonating support personnel from companies like Apple or Amazon. In this scam, the attackers call […]
InfoSec Alert: Cybersecurity Attacks Targeting US Healthcare Systems
During the week of October 26, multiple federal agencies notified Washington University of a credible cybersecurity threat to US health care providers. This threat has impacted several hospitals across the country within the last few days, and intelligence officials suggest several hundred more may be targeted in the near future. Washington University has a dedicated […]
PHISHING ALERT: Malicious Email Indicating New Payroll Approvals Required
The Office of Information Security has identified a phishing threat in which the sender indicates new payroll approvals are required. This is a malicious email attempting to get users to follow a link to a fake login portal. Any user information that is entered in this fake portal will be captured by the criminals as […]
Revised and Updated Policies 2020
The Washington University Office of Information Security maintains a sustainable information security program supporting the vital work of education, research, and clinical care while also protecting our systems and users’ security. We can only achieve strong information security for all if we each take personal responsibility for ensuring our systems’ security. We continuously improve our […]
PHISHING ALERT: Malicious Email Indicating Password Expiration
The Office of Information Security has received reports of malicious emails indicating that users need to follow a link to change their passwords. This email is a fraudulent message attempting to obtain personal information from unsuspecting victims. The criminals behind this effort are hoping to trick users into following a link in that email, then […]
PHISHING ALERT: Tech Support Scams (Vishing)
The Office of Information Security has observed a recent uptick in ‘tech support scams’ that attempt to trick unsuspecting victims into calling a fake customer-support number to discuss alleged problems with their devices or services. How do customer service scams work? These scams often closely mimic actual support pages and contact information to fool unsuspecting […]
UPDATED: Security Threats Targeting COVID-19 Researchers
Law enforcement and government agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), have issued warnings about criminal activity targeting COVID research. Below, you will find links to relevant guidance and announcements about this threat. FBI director says China seeks to compromise U.S. firms researching coronavirus – WaPo […]