Cybercriminals know the best strategies for gaining access to the University’s sensitive data. In most cases, it doesn’t involve them rappelling from the top of Andy Holt Tower and deftly avoiding a laser detection system to hack into your servers; instead, they simply manipulate a community member’s trust by posing as something they trust.

According to experts at IBM, human error is a factor in 95 percent of security incidents. Following are a few ways to identify various types of social engineering attacks and their telltale signs.

• Phishing isn’t relegated to just e-mail! Cybercriminals will also launch phishing attacks through phone calls, text messages, or other online messaging applications. Don’t know the sender or caller? Seem too good to be true? It’s probably a phishing attack. Let your voice-mail take the message, listen to it, and decide whether it warrants a call-back.

• Know the signs. Does the e-mail contain a vague salutation, spelling or grammatical errors, an urgent request, and an offer that seems impossibly good? Click that delete button.

• Verify the sender. Check the sender’s e-mail address to make sure it’s legitimate. If it appears that the OIT HelpDesk is asking you to click on a link to increase your mailbox quota, but the sender is “UniversityHelpDesk@yahoo.com,” it’s a phishing message.

• Don’t be duped by aesthetics. Phishing e-mails often contain convincing logos, links to actual company websites, legitimate phone numbers, and e-mail signatures of actual employees. However, if the message is urging you to take action — especially action such as sending sensitive information, clicking on a link, or downloading an attachment — exercise caution and look for other telltale signs of phishing attacks. Don’t hesitate to contact the company directly; they can verify legitimacy and may not even be aware that their name is being used for fraud.

• Never, ever share your University NETID password. Did we say never? Yup, we mean never. Your password is the key to your identity, your data, and your classmates’ and colleagues’ data. It is for your eyes only. OIT will never ask you for your password. Don’t write it down and paste it on your monitor! Not only are you violating UT Policy, but you’re also putting the University and its data at risk.

• Avoid opening links and attachments from unknown senders. Get into the habit of typing known URLs into your browser. Don’t open attachments unless you’re expecting a file from someone. Give them a call if you’re suspicious. When you’re not sure, call to verify. Let’s say you receive an e-mail claiming to be from someone you know — a friend, colleague, or even the UT Chancellor or UT President. Cybercriminals often spoof addresses to convince you, then request that you perform an action such as transfer funds or provide sensitive information. If something seems off about the e-mail, call them at a known number listed in your institution’s directory to confirm the request.

• Don’t talk to strangers! Receive a call from someone you don’t know? Are they asking you to provide information or making odd requests? Hang up the phone and report it to the OIT HelpDesk at 865-974-9900.

• Don’t be tempted by abandoned flash drives. Cybercriminals may leave flash drives lying around for victims to pick up and insert, thereby unknowingly installing malware on their computers. You might be tempted to insert a flash drive only to find out the rightful owner, but be wary — it could be a trap.

• See someone suspicious? Say something! Say something to your departmental IT staff, call the HelpDesk! If you notice someone suspicious walking around or “tailgating” someone else, especially in an off-limits area, call UTPD.