October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an annual initiative highlighting the importance of staying safe online and protecting personal and sensitive information.
To help employees recognize potential cyber threats and practice safe online habits, Niagara College’s Information Technology Services (ITS) team has developed a dedicated Cybersecurity Awareness Month resource page featuring phishing awareness information and general cybersecurity tips.
As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, ITS is reminding employees to remain vigilant against phishing attempts, which often appear as legitimate emails designed to trick recipients into sharing sensitive information or compromising their accounts.
How to spot a phishing email
Be on the lookout for common warning signs, including:
- Urgent or threatening language pressuring you to act immediately.
- Suspicious sender addresses with misspellings or unfamiliar domains.
- Unexpected links or attachments that may lead to fraudulent websites or harmful files.
- Requests for personal information, passwords or login credentials.
- Unusual spelling, formatting or offers that seem too good to be true.
What to do if you receive a suspicious email
Avoid clicking links, opening attachments or responding to suspicious messages. Instead, report them to ITS using one of the following methods:
- Use the Phish Forwarding button in Outlook: Report suspicious emails directly to ITS using the button, which also removes the message from your inbox. Learn how to use the Phish Forwarding button.
- Forward the email to ITS: Send suspicious messages to [email protected], preferably as an attachment to preserve important details for investigation.
Employees are encouraged to explore NC’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month resource page for more information on phishing awareness, cybersecurity best practices and tips to help protect their information and contribute to a safer digital environment at NC.
