Penn State Issues Alert About Fake Mails

Fake e-mail messages from addresses like "websupport@webmaster.com", "The Psu.edu Team" and "ALERT@psu.edu" are circulating on the net and claiming to be from Penn State, implying that a phishing scam is operating, as reported by StateCollege on July 23, 2008.

Security analysts explained that a phishing scam is a fraud technique in which the hacker sends out authentic looking mail in an attempt to gather private and financial details from users. Actually, the messages seem to come from known reputed sites like webmaster.com as in this particular case.

As per analysts, in this phishing case, one version of these messages explains that it is from the "webmail messaging centre" and the University is updating Penn State Webmail, therefore, users should update their accounts.

The e-mail also demands for username, password and date of birth of a recipient within 7 working days or they will loose their accounts. This implies that it is a phishing mail.

Also, after hearing of a phishing mail, Penn State has come forward and claimed that these mails did not come from them and purely a phishing scam.

Penn State also advised not to reply any of e-mails which reportedly claim to come from Penn State. They informed that if any user receives mail similar to what is explained above, he or she should simply delete it and should not divulge any personal data.

Further, in order to safeguard their users from a phishing scam, the Penn State Information Technology Services (ITS) suggested students, staff and faculty not to reveal their password under any situation.

The Penn State ITS explained that password is an important part of Penn State digital identity and it should be secured as carefully as possible. Further, the Penn State University and other companies do not ask for any sensitive details viz. username, password through mail.

Measnwhile, Penn State's security personnel informed that students and staff can know more about phishing scams and various other computer dangers at Penn State's Take Control Website to remain alert of such attacks in future.

Related article: PM’s Official Web Site Targeted By Hackers

» SPAMfighter News - 8/6/2008