Cybersecurity Awareness

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Fake Debt Collection Google Doc Share

April 17, 2025

Unknown parties are sending fake Google Doc Shares with an urgent subject line. They usually refer to lawsuits or debt collection.

The bad actor is using the same Google Doc service, so the 'from' email will be the service email (via Google Drive)" <drive-shares-noreply@google.com>. The name of the sender

"Lаthаm & Wаtkins Dеbt ...

"MоrgɑnLеwis© - Suppоrt...

is made to sound official but is fake.

...

Security Tips for Travel

Traveling comes with certain data security risks. Using devices like laptops, tablets, or smartphones in unfamiliar locations can expose them to threats. Connecting to public networks in hotels and airports often lacks robust security, making them easy to target.

Consider adding the following data security safeguards to your travel checklist: before, during, and after your trip. If you have any questions about securing your data on your trip, email security@berkeley.edu.

If...

Jan 2025 bCourses Audit Attempts

January 22, 2025

An ineligible former Summer Session student is attempting to contact faculty directly and be added to many bCourses.

What makes this a phishing message?

In the Spring of 2024, a very similar incident occurred. The messages are usually send from an @gmail.com account, but may come from @berkeley.edu emails.

The reason for attempting to gain access to course materials seems unclear and the requests have come from both @berkeley.edu addresses and personal accounts like @gmail.com. Please remember that even if an email comes from a legitimate @berkeley.edu address, the sender...

Fake Electronic Payment ACH Message

April 9, 2025

Many bMail account holders have recently received fake messages indicating an ACH Payment or Electronic Fund transfer.

What makes this a phishing message?

This targeted phishing scam pretending to be a UC Berkeley technician. This targeted phishing scam uses urgency and fear to cause the recipients to act, threatening loss of service (email). The email often come from @GMail accounts and indicate a payment has been made or is pending. The malicious intent of the scammer is to get payment details so they can take those credentials and initiate a fraudulent payment, or steal the...

What is your role in protecting Berkeley Campus Data?


Have you ever copied a work file to your USB drive or home computer at the end of the day and wondered, "Is it safe to copy this data Classification Level Pyramidhere?" Have you ever sent an email with a Social Security Number, a credit card number or student grades and wondered "Should I send this in email?"

You are not alone in asking these questions....

Security Basics: 101

The basics of campus information security boil down to the following three concerns: Protecting Yourself, Protecting Devices, and Protecting Data

Protecting Yourself

Protect your personal information by following guidelines for managing passwords, learning how to avoid phishing scams, and by remembering secure computing practices at all times.

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Fake: URGENT: COVID-19 Variant Case Alert

July 3, 2024

This phony potential Covid contact alert was received by many users sent to their Campus bMail accounts.

What makes this a phishing message?

This targeted phishing scam is using a fake UC Berkeley email address

From: UC Berkeley Alerts <CHI-Information@case.edu>

This targeted phishing scam directs user to a bogus CAS authentication page..

Tips if Something Seems Off:

The serious nature of the report is intended to cause alarm in recipients and lure them into clicking the link and entering their...

Students: Beware of employment scams via email

December 7, 2023

Every year, students at UC Berkeley are scammed out of thousands of dollars via fake employment offers. Beware of unsolicited emails, phone calls, texts or even facebook messages offering internship or employment opportunities. If you receive a job offer, don’t trust it without verifying – contact the person offering the job via their contact info in the campus directory or via a berkeley.edu departmental website....

Fake DUO Authentication Request

October 9, 2023
What makes this a phishing message?

This targeted phishing scam impersonates the UC Berkeley Duo Admin to create fear to cause the recipients to act, scanning the QR code which leads to a malicious link.

This targeted phishing scam uses urgency and fear to cause the recipients to act, exposing their personal information.

Tips if Something Seems Off: Double-check the email address before responding. Individual email users (even accounts made to look like berkeley.edu accounts) will never ask for this action. If the link is followed, the campus will NEVER ask for credentials to be...