Information Security
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
The University of Chicago is proud to be a 2022 champion!
Join us as we share weekly cybersecurity tips, helpful resources, and events posted on our Cybersecurity Awareness Month website.
Information Security Training
Read our FAQ for more information about Core Information Security Awareness training.
How can we help you?
- Report a possible phishing attempt
- I need to complete Security Awareness Training
- I need to reset or recertify my CNetID or password.
- I want to know how to use two-factor authentication.
- I need an SSL, code signing, or some other kind of security certificate.
- Report a possible compromise or other security incident
- I have a question about security for my application or have my application reviewed.
- My account was locked for spamming or due to some other security issue.
- I need access to phone records, emails, or other data for an investigation or personnel matter.
- I’m traveling and received an email asking that I contact the security team.
- My computer or phone was blocked from the network due to a virus detection.
- I want to send the security team a report about a security vulnerability or some other issue I discovered.
- A website I tried to visit is blocked and erroneously listed as suspicious. What do I do?
IT Policies
Refer to the University’s official IT policies regarding data security and use of copyrighted material.
Training and User Guides
Complete security training and get user guides for helpful security tips and advice.
Phishing Alerts
Listed below are the latest phishing scams that have been acted upon by Information Security. Think you’ve received a phishing email? Don’t click it, report it.
Email Scam (Mar 11, 2023): OVERDUE FEE NOTICE !!!
Dear uchicago.edu user, Our record shows that you have a pending overdue administration fee of $2.25 yet to be paid to the University. Several emails have been sent in regards to this payment. We would appreciate you completing the payment today to avoid your portal...
Email Scam (Feb 14, 2023): Invoice from PayPal
Date: February 14, 2023 From: service@paypal.com The attackers have been currently seen using the Paypal Invoice option to scam users via TOAD (Telephone Oriented Attack Delivery) method. The URL upon clicking directs the user to the legitimate Paypal site that states...
Email Scam (Jan 7, 2023): Document shared with you: “NEWRESOURCE”
Sent: Sat Jan 07 22:38:00 UTC 2023 Subject: Document shared with you: "NEWRESOURCE"
Security News
Check here for the latest security alerts that may affect you.
Don’t Wait to Update
One of the easiest ways to keep your information secure is to keep your software and apps updated. Update often. Always keep your software updated when updates becomes available and don’t delay. These updates fix general software problems and provide new security...
Multi-factor Authentication for the Win!
According to a 2021 PC Mag study, 70% of people admit they use the same password for more than one account. Using weak or similar passwords makes a hacker's life a lot easier and can give them access to more materials than they could dream of. Enabling multi-factor...
Ditch the Post-It Notes and Use a Password Manager
Most of us manage 100 or more passwords for our online accounts and it can be tough to remember so many unique passwords. If you’re like most people, you’re probably using the same password for most of your accounts—and that’s not safe. Once that single password is...
Video: Report Phish With One Click
How to Locate the Report Phish Button
IT Services has implemented an easier way to report suspicious emails from your University Outlook or Gmail inbox. This feature, called Report Phish, allows you to report phishing or other suspicious emails with the click of a button. The Report Phish button will...
Learn How to Refuse the Phishing Bait
Phishing – when a cybercriminal poses as a legitimate party in hopes of getting someone to engage with malicious content or links – remains one of the most popular tactics among cybercriminals today. In fact, 80% of cybersecurity incidents and 90% of data breaches...
Text Message Scam ( August 9, 2022 ): SMS Impersonation of University VIPs
Date: August 9, 2022 From: +(213)205-5089 The following is part of an example of what a UChicago user saw and responded to the initial scammer message. We have currently observed some scam campaigns through phone text (i.e. smishing) where the attacker tries...
Cybersecurity First – Oct 25, 2021
Cybersecurity is a Team Sport Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and the University of Chicago’s security efforts will only be successful when all members of the campus community understand the risks and take steps to avoid them. We offer the following tips to...
Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week
Cybersecurity is a dynamic and rapidly growing field, with new threats and challenges emerging each day. And with that, there is a huge push being undertaken by both business and education sectors to attract individuals toward a degree and career in cyber. Whether...
Protecting Yourself Against Ransomware Attacks
In week 1 of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we focused on educating you on the different types of phishing attacks we have seen and that many have reported receiving in the UChicago community. The most important element in a successful phishing attack is the human...