By Maci Taylor, Staff Writer

Over the past couple of months, there has been an increase in phishing emails sent to students’ school email addresses. Xavier’s cybersecurity team has made efforts to try to reduce these emails breaking through the online security. However, the emails have still been sneaking through. I am here to give you a tutorial on how to recognize these suspicious emails and keep your information safe. 

Tip One: If the word don’t fit, you must acquit. 

If you see misspelled words or words that don’t belong in sentences in the email, then delete. Organizations and companies don’t misspell words in emails. Sketchy people who want your social security number to trade it in for an Xbox do misspell words. 

Tip Two: Think before you click that link. 

I know guys, those blue links are very enticing. They whisper to you telling you to click on them and see what pops up on the other side. DON’T DO IT. The links will steal your information, therefore making Blue Blob disappointed in you. We can’t have Blue Blob disappointed in you, it is on such a high after Xavier beat UConn.  

Tip Three: A sense of urgency? Don’t think you are in an emergency. 

Scammers know that we all procrastinate, so by crafting phishing emails with urgency, it makes it more likely for someone to fall for their trick. It is probably not true that the FBI needs you for a top-secret mission or that a Nigerian princess needs you to send money to them or they will die.  

Now that we know our tips, let’s try with a few example emails: 

Hi Sam,  

You hav been been selectd for a trip to the camen islans. The islan so big 

https://thisisascamsuckit/ui-ux/y

This is clearly a suspicious email with misspelled words and an interesting URL link.  

Dear Mildred, 

You have died and need to inherit money. To proceed email me back please and we can make monies transfer to you. It is like millions of dollars and you become billionaire like bull gates. Your uncle is dying.  

The President of the United States, 

J.D. 

We clearly have some conflicting information being shared here… 

C-O-S-T-C-O, 

We Have Been TRYING To ReachYou 

You’veBeenChosen… 

Complete short survey about shopping online to get $1000 cash-value. 

Accept 

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Not sure why Costco would be trying to contact you in such a creepy way. Also, why is coronavirus in the byline?