Phishing emails are more than just annoying clutter in your inbox. They’re actually a serious problem — in the past academic year, there seems to be more and more cases at Syracuse University in which students’ netID accounts get hacked. Constantly getting spam emails is frustrating, so here are the five tips to prevent a major technology catastrophe.

Laura Angle| Digital Design Editor

1. Don’t click on random links

Don’t be fooled by random links that might seem harmless. It’s often just a simple curiosity that leads to a computer’s demise. Things to look out for are unknown senders, random advertisements and even account warners that seem out of the blue. If you get an email indicating you forgot some form, think twice about trusting that link.

“Students often click on seemingly legitimate links in their emails, and this exposes their personal information to the public,” said Lisa Pugh, a senior consultant at SU’s Information Technology Services. “Hover your cursor to the link and see if any suspicious information pops up.”

2. Don’t download suspicious files

If someone sent you an email and you’re not sure what the email is about, it may be dangerous to download the attachment — so don’t. These attachments often contain a Trojan Horse virus and could actually be software that hijacks your computer. All of the documents and data on your computer would be at risk. They could be stolen, deleted or, even worse, be hacked for personal information.

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3. Expand your cybersecurity knowledge

The Information Security Club at the iSchool and CUSEHacks are two organizations at SU that focus on cybersecurity. The Information Security Club meets once a week to learn about the latest cybersecurity news. This allows members to familiarize themselves with different hacking systems. Consider joining clubs like this or at least talk to current members to learn more about what’s going on.

4. Backup your technology regularly

Backing up your technology is often overlooked because it takes time — but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important.

“It is inevitable that at some point in life your computer might get infected and the only way to combat cunning hackers is to have a clean backup,” Pugh said. “Precautions are always the best way to prevent crises from happening. If … your computer got hacked and the backup is right there, it is recommended we recover from the back up. This way, we can ensure that the system is clean again.”

Additionally, if students keep multiple backups saved through the cloud or in a hard drive, there’s a smaller chance for data to be lost if something were to be hacked and deleted. External hard drives are very easy to use, portable and can be used offline. Plus, it’s tangible. Even the cloud could be susceptible to cyber threats.

5. Ask a professional

If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of an email you receive, forward it to infosec@syr.edu. That is SU’s Information Security Department and members are always there for you. Don’t hesitate to contact them.

Eldon Tsoi is a sophomore information management technology and accounting major. His column appears biweekly. He can be reached at eltsoi@syr.edu.

Published on September 19, 2018 at 8:56 pm