Cybersecurity

There is a sneaky new technique to get malware onto your system; attackers are now creating fake CAPTCHA pages to trick you into running commands that will compromise your device. You’re probably familiar with CAPTCHA challenges. Websites use them to distinguish humans from bots, often with a “verify you are human” checkbox or a task … Read more

“Hey, can you do me a quick favor?” sounds innocent, right? But if that message came from your manager… at a weird hour… and on WhatsApp instead of a university Teams or email account… it’s probably not really them at all. Scammers are getting smarter and now they’re posing as coworkers, managers, or departments like … Read more

There has been a noticeable increase in variations of the “free piano”/”free toolbox” scam. This scam starts with an email that pretends to be from a UFV employee or their family, and offers a donated item – like an instrument or a tool – for only the cost of shipping. The scammer will ask you … Read more

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are commonly used tools to enhance online privacy. While they promise certain benefits, they can also lead to unintended behaviour when used to access your UFV account and other UFV resources. VPNs and your UFV account When accessing your UFV account with a VPN enabled, the service masks your IP address, … Read more

We are excited to announce that Windows Hello PINs are now available for employees using their UFV devices. It’s a faster, more secure, and hassle-free way to sign in by using a PIN instead of your password What is Windows Hello? Windows Hello allows you to use a PIN, instead of your usual password, to … Read more

The holiday season is upon us, and many of you might receive new device. Whether it’s a new smartphone, tablet, or laptop, it’s essential to make sure your MFA methods are up to date, and to secure your new device so it’s ready to use. Step 1: Ensure your MFA methods are up to date … Read more

As the end of the fall semester (and 2024) approaches, we have one more gift for you: a holiday capture the flag! You can play until Dec 31st at midnight. We hope you’ve had a good fall semester, and we wish you a restful winter break! How to Start 1. Go to https://ufv.ctfd.io 2. Click … Read more

As the holiday season approaches, fraudsters take advantage of shoppers looking for online deals and digital gifts. Here are some ways you can spot scams and stay cyber-safe while you get those holiday deals! Signs of a scam Poor website design: Watch for blurry images, typos, and sites missing return or privacy policies. If you … Read more

UFV’s Cybersecurity team has seen an increase in invoice scams. Fraudsters send invoices to you in hopes you will pay for goods and services that you never ordered. These invoices may look genuine, and could include legal jargon that pressure you into paying quickly. They may even send these requests through a known service like … Read more

What is CTF (Capture the Flag)? Capture the Flag (or CTF for short) is a collection of puzzles where participants compete to find the hidden piece of text (called the “flag”). It’s like a scavenger hunt, but all the hunting is done on your computer. There are two types of challenges this year: non-technical questions … Read more