Recently several systems on campus have become infected with a virus known as "ransom ware."
This is a virus that threatens PCs and is usually activated by responding to e-mails that state something such as "Send us money and we will fix the problem." Another version, claiming to be from the FBI or CIA, says that child pornography has been found on someone’s computer—and that paying a fine will resolve the matter out of court.
Sometimes these e-mails are annoying but harmless, while other times they hurt or delete data from computer systems.
Here are tips to avoid such infections:
- Only open e-mail attachments from trusted people whom you are expecting to contact you. Many fraudulent messages are forged to appear as coming from someone you know. If you are not sure, contact the sender via another means to verify that they intended to send the file to you.
- Only click links in e-mails from people you know. E-mails that contain nothing but a Web link are particularly dangerous.
- Be especially careful of e-mails from people you know but who haven't corresponded recently.
- Information systems staff will never ask you to verify your account or provide your password. If you get an e-mail claiming to be from the system administrator or information systems staff asking to validate your account, ask for help using the contact information below before taking any action.
- If you believe your system has become infected with a virus, immediately shut it down. Only restart the system when instructed to by information systems support staff.
Medical Center employees: Ext. 48889
University employees: Ext. 48611 or lluhelpdesk@llu.edu