Increase in SPAM emails

Fri, 30 Oct 2015 02:00:00 GMT

Dear Colleagues

Over the past few weeks, and particularly during the last two days, we have experienced an increase in the amount of SPAM (unwanted) email arriving into the University.  Although over 99% of the emails we receive are rejected by Computing and Library Services (CLS) as SPAM there are some emails that will inevitably get through.  It is sometimes difficult to distinguish a legitimate email from SPAM as described below.

The latest technique used by the spammers is to send items containing Microsoft Word attachments (.doc files).  Some of these files can appear genuine at first glance, for example as invoices or travel company receipts.  However, the attachment usually contains a harmful virus and many are designed to capture your username and password.

We have consulted with other universities who are also experiencing similar problems with an increase in SPAM from Word attachments.

CLS has been working hard to keep on top of the increase in SPAM activity but unfortunately the only guaranteed way of stopping every occurrence of this type of email is to block all emails with Word attachments.  Although this is technically possible it would hamper our activities since many emails are sent between two parties with legitimate Word attachments.

One way you can help is to utilise the link below to notify our email administrators by putting any suspected SPAM emails into the specified location.  CLS uses a SPAM learning tool which runs on an hourly basis picking up the SPAM reported by you and by using a complex algorithm creates a filter for future SPAM recognition.

In the meantime if you do receive SPAM then please drop it in the ** PUT SPAM HERE ** public folder which will help us to better identify and deal with this problem.

For further information and how to notify any SPAM mail to CLS please follow this link:

https://www.hud.ac.uk/staff/it/staffemail/managingjunkmailspam/

Mab Goolab

Infrastructure Team Leader

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