Keep Your Personal Information Secure
Living and learning in a digital environment poses risks to your personal information. It’s important to practice caution in online interactions to avoid becoming a victim of phishing attempts—a form of cyber-attack where someone ‘mimics’ another person, university or business with the hopes of tricking you into providing your personal information.
NIU will never email or text you for a password or verification without you first initiating contact. If you receive a questionable text or email, do not respond or provide any information.
- You should always report questionable texts or emails to NIU by emailing abuse@niu.edu or contacting our Division of Information Technology’s service desk (servicedesk@niu.edu or 815-753-8100) as soon as possible.
- If you have ever provided any of your personal information or credentials in reply to a text or an email, please let us know and reset your password immediately. You can reset your password by visiting niu.edu.
- Always feel free to reach out to us if you have questions. Email servicedesk@niu.edu or infosecurity@niu.edu. You can also call our service desk at 815-753-8100 if you have any questions.
Tips and Best Practices
Below are a few important tips and best practices to remember to help secure your information:
- Do not reuse your NIU password for other websites or applications
- Do not approve Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) requests if it is not from you
- Do not provide any personal information unless you understand the situation
- Do not click on links or attachments or reply if you are not 100% sure that they are legitimate, even if from internal accounts
More information about phishing and tips to avoid being a victim are available by visiting our Office of Information Security’s website.
Have a Question?
Take a look at frequently asked questions about ways to stay informed about events and programs.