Mass email hacker targeted the GCU (Glasgow Caledonian University) in Scotland

Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland has warned the students to remain cautious online after student and staff accounts have been targeted by a mass email hacker.

Director of Information Services, Alan O'Neill, sent a notice on January 20, 2019, that warned the students not to trust the Glasgow Caledonian University emails received in their inbox at this moment until the security breach is handled.

The notice reads: "We are currently experiencing a mass email phishing campaign that is targeting GCU student and staff accounts. We have controls in place to help protect our networks and computers from this type of attack. However, we rely on you to be our first line of defence against these sophisticated and rapidly changing attacks".

The notice further reads it is important that the students avoid clicking on attachments or links in any emails from Glasgow Caledonian University at this moment, even if the email sender seems to be somebody the student might know. The notice ask to remain particularly vigilant with any emails of Glasgow Caledonian University received after January 19, 2019, 00:00 am.

Additionally, the notice stated that this attack is replicating the email addresses of Glasgow Caledonian University and also changing each email's layout. So, Alan O'Neill said in the notice that they are finding it difficult to identify which emails are actually compromised, and which are not. The notice also says that an update will be provided very soon from when the students can use the emails safely again.

As per the notice, in case any student have opened an attachment or clicked a link and then provided their login credentials, they should change their password immediately as it is not necessary that student have been compromised.

The warning notice was sent to each and every student's email addresses.

Alan O'Neill added that be assured that the University is taking appropriate steps for dealing with this matter and, with support from everyone, they are confident that they have correct measures in place so as to minimise the impact. He also says that it is essential that everybody should always remain vigilant from any kind of suspicious email.

» SPAMfighter News - 2/5/2019