E-Mail Information Security Notice
"Verify Your NIU..." E-Mail Scam
You may receive an e-mail that asks you to provide your e-mail account and password. There is very little we can do to prevent this, so it is likely that you will receive e-mails like this on a regular basis for a while. NIU will never ask you for your password. Do not respond.
Protect your personal information
- You should not have any detailed personal or family information in your stored e-mail files. (These are business systems owned by the University and really should not be used for personal activities anyway.)
- You should not maintain any personally identifying information such as drivers license, SSN, date of birth in your e-mails.
- Although it is very convenient to use your e-mail account as a file storage system, it is an e-mail and collaboration system. As e-mail systems go, it is very secure and better than most other available systems, but it is not a file storage system. Important business files and confidential documents, when they are done being used in real-time communications, should be archived to storage areas that have better security and control.
- Do not write your passwords down, do not share your passwords, do not use commonly used passwords (pet names, family names, SSN, etc). Do not walk away from your computer while still logged into your e-mail or without locking your screen.
No matter how legit an e-mail looks, remember that NIU will never ask you for your password. If you think something looks "phishy" it probably is. When in doubt, contact the ITS HelpDesk.
The first level of information security begins with each individual user - safeguard both your own personal information and that of NIU.
