The holidays are coming. It's a time for peace on earth, good will toward people, and making spirits bright -- right? Beware: not everyone has the holiday spirit. There are scammers out there waiting to spoil your cheer.
Pleased to have received an e-mail greeting card from someone? You might not be, if it turns out to contain malicious code. Recent news stories report that holiday e-greeting cards may contain a virus or worm that can infect your computer. The Hallmark website says that one way to identify a genuine e-greeting card is to look for the sender's first and last name in the subject. If there is no name, or it not someone you know, delete the message immediately.
Other fraudulent e-mails purportedly from UPS or FedEx claim that a package you sent cannot be delivered. Clicking a link in the message can infect your computer. Still other fake e-mails are offering coupons or promotions from major companies such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola. These messages may contain malicious code.
These are just some examples of the many fraudulent e-mails that circulate, not just around the holidays, but all year long.
Scrutinize such messages carefully and delete them if you have any doubt that they are legitimate. Also check the website of the company mentioned to see if there are any consumer alerts about fraudulent e-mails. And of course, always make sure your computer's anti-virus software is updated.
Be safe, not sorry, this holiday season.
ITS Helpdesk
helpdesk@ithaca.edu
274-3282
