Cyber criminals continue to exploit the uncertainty and anxieties of remote working across the world, and over the past week, staff and students have reported multiple phishing emails. Each one has now been dealt with by our IT security team.

Malicious emails including spam, viruses, malware and phishing attacks can potentially cause significant damage to University data and could also have significant personal impact, including financial consequences. They might appear to come from the University so please be careful.

It is very important that you do not click any links, open suspicious attachments or respond to these types of emails, and never supply personal or bank details to people you do not know.

How to report a phishing email
If you think you have received a phishing email or are unsure, please contact the IT Service Desk immediately. If you are concerned (e.g. you responded to a suspected phishing email) or you need to report this outside normal service hours (08:00 until 18:00 Monday to Friday), please telephone 0115 95 16677, which is available 24/7.

If you have clicked on a link or downloaded a suspicious file, please change your University password, security questions on IT Accounts and then contact the IT Service Desk.

Please be vigilant – what to look out for
You should:

• Never reply to emails asking for your personal details
• Only open links, apps and attachments from trustworthy sources
• Avoid sharing too much information on social media

You can view further information about phishing and scam emails, along with some top tips, in this Campus News article.

For more information on how to spot a phishing attempt, please read our phishing advice and Digital Network blog.