Spam & Phishing
What is spam?
Spam is a generic term for unwanted messages. Usually, the term junk e-mail or unsolicited bulk e-mail is intended, but unwanted advertising on websites (eg. forums) also falls under spam. Characteristics of spam messages:
- messages are sent in large quantities, to thousands of people simultaneously.
- spam has a commercial purpose. The messages usually refer to a product or website.
- the messages are sent or posted without permission or knowledge of the site, or the recipient.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Spam messages may seem to be sent by yourself, see: Own address as sender.
What is phishing?
Phishing is a type of computer fraud, criminals use to try stealing passwords, account numbers, credit card numbers or other personal information. Through false messages that are difficult to distinguish from real e-mail messages and that will look familiar to you, you will be asked to pass the required information to them. Or you might be asked to visit a familiar looking website and to enter your details there. All personal information you enter on this phishing website can be used in fraudulent transactions or to commit crimes using another identity.
Phishing messages have been and will be sent to UGent email addresses. It goes without saying, that you do NOT reply to this type of messages.
Ghent University will never request your account information via email.
If account information (login names, passwords, codes, ...) is requested (via reference to a website), it is always phishing.
If you question the authenticity of an e-mail, please contact the helpdesk.
Example of a phishing message
This phishing message asks you to update your UGent mail account.
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:16:40 -0600 [09:16:40 PM CEST] From: "UGENT.BE UPGRADE" To: undisclosed-recipients:; Reply-To: technical-upgrade-team@live.com Subject: Upgrade Your Ghent University E-mail Account Now! Headers: Show All Headers Dear ugent.be e-mail owner, This message is from ugent.be messaging center to all ugent.be e-mail owners. We are currently upgrading our data base and e-mail center. We are deleting all unused ugent.be e-mail accounts to create space for new ones. To prevent your account from closing you will have to update it below so that we will know its an existing account. CONFIRM YOUR E-MAIL BELOW: Name:................. Email Username :..... EMAIL Password : ................ Country or Territory : .......... Warning!!! E-mail owner who fails to update his or her e-mail within Seven days of receiving this warning will risk losing his or her e-mail account permanently. Thank you for your understanding. ugent.be team ugent.be BETA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3webLD gives you the lowest long distance rates out there...Canada calling as low as 2 cents/min...U.S. as low as 4 cents/min...visit www.get3web.com for details