Over the Easter weekend and at the start of this week, the University was targeted by a series of phishing attacks. While we have robust cyber defences, we are seeing an increase in attacks including those using new techniques.
IT Services promptly put measures in place to keep our network safe. Some users may have had difficulty logging into Microsoft Office software late yesterday (Tuesday), which was a temporary and unexpected issue caused by these updates. IT Services has now resolved the problem – thank you for your patience.
How to spot a phishing or spam email
We are seeing an increase in sophisticated phishing attacks, and more staff and students are interacting with suspicious emails.
Phishing attacks are constantly evolving, so make sure that your cyber security knowledge is up to date. You can also follow the five rules to stay safe:
- Don’t click on links in emails, instead hover your mouse over to see the web address
- Never give out your personal information
- Do not open attachments from people you don’t know, or if you weren’t expecting them
- Watch out for common phrases, often giving a short deadline to click on a link
- If in doubt, don’t do anything! Email phishingalerts@liverpool.ac.uk for advice about whether an email is malicious or not.
You can find more information about spam and phishing emails on our email security page.