You’ve heard about phishing, right? That’s when a cyberattacker sends a legitimate-looking email or text to unsuspecting recipients, hoping to trick them into giving out personal, financial or other sensitive information the cybercriminal can use to commit identity theft, gain access to victim’s accounts or compromise their computer.
Phishing isn’t limited to written scams, though. You might get a phone call from someone pretending to be from MSU Denver Information Technology Services, with instructions you need to follow to fix an “urgent” problem. This technique is called “vishing,” or voice-phishing, and the goal is still to trick you into giving something away. Remember, ITS will never pressure you to share passwords or sensitive information over the phone, and if there’s a network security issue, they won’t want you to keep the computer online. If a call feels spooky, hang up and contact ITS directly.
For more information about spotting and reporting phishing scams, please visit the ITS Knowledgebase.
This article is part of MSU Denver’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025 series. Find previously released tips below:
- Oct. 2: Beware bewitched browsers
- Oct 8: Doomed devices: Protect your hardware before it haunts you
- Oct 15: Avoid AI Nightmares
The University is proud to support this nationwide initiative, co-led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
