Tag Archives: Information Security

About Your Role

When we say See Yourself in Cyber, we mean see yourself in cyber no matter what role you play. As an individual or consumer, take steps to protect your online information and privacy. Faculty, staff, and service providers can take ownership of their role by putting cybersecurity in place to prevent incidents while protecting the University’s brand and reputation. Administrators support critical operations and are a part of the network of functions and systems that others rely on.

Remember: your role plays an important part in ensuring cybersecurity for the larger ecosystem!

Phishing and Social Engineering

Phishing and social engineering campaigns are the #1 source of ransomware and other malware[1].
Phishing is a type of cybersecurity attack where malicious actors send messages pretending to be a trusted person. Social Engineering is the psychological manipulation of people into performing actions like installing malicious software, clicking a malicious link, or divulging sensitive information.

Reduce your chances of your falling victim to phishing attacks!

Beware of messages that:

  • Do not clearly identify themselves or their company
  • Come from an email address that does not match the company’s domain
  • Do not give full contact information such as the title of sender, the company’s physical address, or phone number
  • Make too good to be true offers with no strings attached
  • Ask to pay an upfront fee or asks you to transfer money for them
  • Ask to give your credit card or bank account numbers
  • Ask to send copies of personal documents
  • Remember: DO NOT provide any personal information, especially Social Security numbers or financial information. Legitimate companies would not ask for this information over the phone or email.

If an email looks suspicious, do not respond and do not click on any links or attachments. When available, “Report phishing” to block other suspicious emails.

[1] 2021 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR)

Beware of Disaster Scams

Remain vigilant for scams particularly related to disasters and other current events. Recent phishing campaigns include emails with attachments or links to fraudulent websites to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or donating to fraudulent charities or causes. Exercise caution in handling any email with Hurricane Ian-related subject line, attachment, or hyperlink, and be wary of social media pleas, texts, or calls related to Hurricane Ian relief efforts.

In general, avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails, never reveal personal or financial information in email and do not respond to solicitations for this type of information. Always verify the sender of email messages.

For more information about phishing and Internet scams, as well as ways to identify them, please visit our Phishing and Scams resource page

Please send any questions or concerns to Simmons Information Security Officer, Richard Phung, or the Technology Service Desk.

Upcoming Sharkpass Duo Updates

Example of a new Duo Push

Simmons Technology will be updating Duo Security — the technology behind Simmons Sharkpass — to the Universal Prompt which will affect the look-and-feel of logging into Simmons resources. 

After this change, a redesigned prompt will be presented to users at the time they login providing a sleeker, more simplified interface. 


Stay tuned! More details to be announced soon.

Information Security and Phishing

ID Badge IconNearly 20 million students in the US are expected to attend universities this fall. 

This is an exciting time for Simmons as our students, faculty, and staff return for the academic year. Unfortunately, the return to school provides ample opportunities for cybercriminals who wish to take advantage of people during these particularly busy times.

Phishing attacks are once again on the rise, accounting for more than 20% of data breaches in 2021[1]. It is estimated that one in every 99 messages (1.2%)[2] is malicious which equates to nearly 3.4 billion fake emails per day.

Luckily there are some healthy security practices that we all can take to reduce risk:

  • Beware of email messages claiming to be of an urgent nature.
  • Pay attention to the sender of the email message.
  • Look out for fake logos, signatures, or suspicious message contents.
  • Check those URLs; only visit official, reputable websites with encryption.
  • Think twice before clicking links or opening attachments.
  • Protect your passwords and use different passwords for your work, school, and personal accounts.
  • Keep your machine clean. 
  • Make sure that all of your devices, apps, browsers, and antivirus software are up-to-date.
  • Delete sensitive information if you no longer need it.
  • Back-up your files regularly. 

Be mindful of common scams targeting college students, including:

  • Emails that contain “important information about your Simmons account” or a “problem with your registration”
  • Tech Support scams where you get a call about a “problem with your computer”
  • Scholarship scams, textbook rental or book-buying scams.
  • IRS scams demanding money for a fake “federal student tax”
  • Tuition reimbursement or student debt cancellation scams
  • Messages asking for your login information, passwords, or other personal information
  • Fake friend requests, fake login pages, and fake DropBox or Google Docs share notices.

Thank you for your continued cooperation supporting your information security and online safety!  For more information about phishing and Internet scams, as well as ways to identify them, please visit our Phishing and Scams resource page

Please send any questions or concerns to Simmons Information Security Officer, Richard Phung, or the Technology Service Desk.  

[1] Verizon 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report (https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/)

[2] Valimail Email Fraud Landscape Spring 2019 Report (https://valimail.docsend.com/view/qndhuhn)

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Important Sharkpass/Duo Changes

Icon of No PhoneSimmons uses SharkPass to provide an additional layer of security for our Simmons login. In recent years, SMS passcodes, Duo Mobile Passcodes, and Telephone voice call verification have become avenues for scammers to steal login credentials.

On July 11, 2022, Technology will disable the use of SMS passcodes, Duo Mobile passcodes, and telephone voice calls as authentication methods for SharkPass.  Users authenticating using their Simmons Account credentials after this date must use a Duo Push to their mobile device, or an approved security token.

The Duo Push is the preferred authentication method for Sharkpass/Duo as it offers an easy-to-use and seamless experience for the community in addition to increased security.

To avoid any potential service disruptions, be sure to enroll and begin to use your Duo Push-enabled smartphone or mobile device to be used with SharkPass. Instructions may be found at the SharkPass Information website.

What if I don’t have a cell phone or mobile device?

If you do not have a cell phone that is compatible with the Duo Push, you may be eligible for a free two-step verification hardware token. Please contact the Service Desk, at 617-521-2222.

These changes are a part of Simmons’ continual efforts to make our systems more secure.  Please be on the lookout for future communications describing improvements to this service.