End of Year Phishing Advisory and Welcome Message

Announcing the UMS Information Security Advisory Google Group. The purpose of the group is to provide timely security advisories and important reminders

Cybersecurity Awareness: Social Engineering

Social Engineering is the name for a group of fraudulent activities that manipulate people into divulging personal information to dubious individuals or groups. The information is then used for criminal acts, causing a variety of difficulties for the victims. Although phishing is the most widely publicized, there are a number of ways these bad actors can psychologically manipulate us

Text Phishing Scams on the Rise

We have recently become aware of a targeted text phishing (aka SMS) campaign where the attacker is impersonating University supervisors or leaders. The attacker appears to have gathered some personal cell phone numbers from unknown sources, to make the phishing attempts more convincing. For Everyone: • Be cautious of unexpected text messages, even if they appear to come from a known supervisor or leader.• Do not click on links or provide sensitive information via text message without verifying the legitimacy of the request through a separate, trusted communication channel.• Report any suspicious text messages to the Information Security Office immediately. For Faculty/Staff: • Verify any unusual requests from supervisors or colleagues through a separate, established communication channel, such as a phone call or in-person. • Be aware that these attempts are prevalent and have been on the increase recently. For Students: • Be aware that phishing attacks can target anyone, including students. Remain cautious unsolicited text messages requesting sensitive information. • If you receive a suspicious text message claiming to be from a University employee, report it to the Information Security Office

2019 Proposed US:IT Functional Org Chart (realignment underway)

Organizational chart for the Department of University of Maine Information Technology

UMS Research Reinvestment Fund (RRF) Annual Report of Activities

The University of Maine System (UMS) is responsible for conducting research and development that supports and expands the Maine economy. These efforts are primarily led by the University of Maine (UMaine), the land grant, sea grant, and space grant university of the State. UMaine partners with the other system campuses to ensure that its efforts are indeed statewide in focus and impact. The purpose of the Research Reinvestment Fund (RRF) is to strengthen research and development activities that are tied to Maine businesses, and to industries that are critical to the future of Maine. The Board of Trustees (BOT) committed an initial $10.5MM for this initiative (2.1MM/year for 5 years, FY15 – FY19), from savings accruing from the UMS Administrative Reviews

Information Security Update : Watch Out for Tutoring Scams

As part of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding our shared digital environment, the Information Security Office is providing you with this monthly security update. This communication highlights the frequently reported: Tutoring Scams