MTSU’s Information Technology Division sent out an email on Nov. 10, urging students to reinforce their Microsoft login information following recent cyberattacks on college campuses.
The email detailed a hacking incident that occurred yesterday at Vanderbilt University. Students and faculty received a notification from administration asking them to disconnect from school devices and Wi-Fi.
Vanderbilt’s classes and systems were disrupted yesterday — classes resuming today but several systems still being restricted by the university, according to The Vanderbilt Hustler.
ITD said the hacking group claimed to steal student and employee data along with research data. The group claimed to also breach information systems at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center.
“Higher education is a prime target, and an attack this close to home is a reminder that we have every reason to expect the same threats here,” said ITD via email. “Attacks like these very often begin with a single stolen login.”
The email listed things to watch out for to avoid personal data breaches:
Unprompted calls, emails and texts claiming to be from ITD or administration
Messages that ask you to “verify” or “secure” your Microsoft account, especially if after referencing the attack at Vanderbilt
Calls requesting you to read back a code, approve an unexpected login prompt or “confirm” a password
Links to Microsoft login sites that look unfamiliar, especially if they appear in texts or emails unprompted
Unprompted Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requests. Deny and report the request to [email protected] if you did not attempt to log in
ITD notes that its desk, staff or services will never text, call or email to ask for passwords or confirmation codes. The email encourages students to set up a passkey for MFA as soon as possible.
“Unlike a password or code, a passkey can’t be shared over the phone or entered into a fake website, which makes stolen logins far harder for attackers to obtain,” ITD said via the email.
Students can set up their passkey through instructions in Service Desk’s knowledge article KB0011417 on its website. They can also contact the ITD Service Desk directly at [email protected].
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