One of the main motives of cybersecurity attacks is identity theft. Identity theft is the deliberate use of someone else’s identity, usually to use credit.

Phishing emails are commonly used to scam account information or install malware that sends information from your device. Be careful what links you click on.

Identity theft doesn’t just happen online. Discarded bank statements, bills, receipts, and old hard drives are also used by identity thieves.

Creating Strong Passwords

What is a secure password?

A secure password should be virtually impossible for others to guess. It should not contain or be based on personal information, and it should not be written down or given out to anybody.

Posters

Phishing

Phishing is a form of social engineering where the attacker attempts to trick people into revealing private information by sending fake emails that appear to be from reputable sources.

Identifying a Phishing Email

Here are a few things to look for when trying to figure out if an email is a phishing attack:

The Information Security Office provides Digital Self Defense training courses scheduled through the Center for Professional Development or by request. The program is divided into Introduction to Digital Self Defense andand Information Handling. See below for more information about specific courses.