Spring Break
Students victims of phishing scam
Christopher Echeverria-Daily Targum (Rutgers)
Issue date: 3/14/08 Section: Science & Technology
"If they ask you for personal information, it's a sign. Most legitimate organizations won't ask you for personal information through e-mail," Reda said. "Also check if they try to redirect you to a web site where they're going to gather your information. That is a popular one."
The recent wave of e-mails has not yielded any perpetrators. But there are severe penalties for phishing.
"Phishing is against the law. Phishing attempts by students is also against the Acceptable Use Policy for Computing and Information Technology Resources," Gergel said. "If a student is suspected of violating this policy, a judicial referral can be made to the dean of Students under the University Code of Student Conduct."
Although other universities have received similar attacks, the best way for users to protect themselves is precaution, Gergel said. The Office of Information Technology urged students to be careful with their personal information, so future incidents do not result in cases of identity thefts at the University.
"It's good that they're trying to inform people and all, but what's being done to find and penalize the people responsible?" Omar Maharem, a School of Arts and Sciences student, asked. "I mean, if this isn't the first wave, there should be more done to find out who's doing this."
School of Arts and Sciences student Meron Addisu said he was unaware of the problem.
"I never received any spam, so I always felt that Eden was very secure," Addisu said.
Gilbert Bonsu, a School of Arts and Sciences student, said he was concerned about the phishing.
"As someone who does a majority of my work on in the Internet, it's scary," he said. "If someone had my Eden account, do you know how much information they would get from me?"
The recent wave of e-mails has not yielded any perpetrators. But there are severe penalties for phishing.
"Phishing is against the law. Phishing attempts by students is also against the Acceptable Use Policy for Computing and Information Technology Resources," Gergel said. "If a student is suspected of violating this policy, a judicial referral can be made to the dean of Students under the University Code of Student Conduct."
Although other universities have received similar attacks, the best way for users to protect themselves is precaution, Gergel said. The Office of Information Technology urged students to be careful with their personal information, so future incidents do not result in cases of identity thefts at the University.
"It's good that they're trying to inform people and all, but what's being done to find and penalize the people responsible?" Omar Maharem, a School of Arts and Sciences student, asked. "I mean, if this isn't the first wave, there should be more done to find out who's doing this."
School of Arts and Sciences student Meron Addisu said he was unaware of the problem.
"I never received any spam, so I always felt that Eden was very secure," Addisu said.
Gilbert Bonsu, a School of Arts and Sciences student, said he was concerned about the phishing.
"As someone who does a majority of my work on in the Internet, it's scary," he said. "If someone had my Eden account, do you know how much information they would get from me?"
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