Careful – Don’t Let Yourself Get Duped!

Contributed by Glenn Flenorl, Cybersecurity Major

In Today’s world of technology and learning, the threat of someone misusing technology is always present.  Recently, there have been a rash of bogus emails going around the school as seen below (Figure 1).  This is called Phishing.

Figure 1: A Sample Phishing Email

What is a phishing attack? Phishing is a type of social engineering attack often used to steal user data, including login credentials and credit card numbers. It occurs when an attacker, masquerading as a trusted entity, dupes a victim into opening an email, instant message, or text message ( google 2017). This is a example of what been going around the campus.  As We take a closer look at the email it looks all normal. That’s what its suppose to do look normal.  Then we look at the name now since I’m a student here I got to thinking to verify things I looked up the name.  There is a number of things faculty and staff to do if they get something that looks bogus or untrustworthy.  Simple ask your co-workers, look up the name like I did in the school staff dircetory.  That  was evdince for me to say this is not real and I told co-workers and students right away.  And the school always sends out help deck emails with no link in in its been standard protocol here at the college that the HELP DESK does not put links in the emails. So it is good practices to always be sure of the email that is being sent to you is by the party the is familiar.  Step one is to go to the MCC My WAY site click Menu (Figure 2).

Figure 2: MyWay

Second go to the employee directory (Figure 3).  In the drop down menu got to help desk to get yourself armed with knowledge to better combat phishing attempts by knowing who is in the help desk department and or building location.

Figure 3: The Directory Search Page

I just happen to know building 4 is where IT HELP DESK is here on Fort campus an as you can see there is no Hoffman anywhere (Figure 4).

Figure 4: No Hoffman Here!

Just by knowing who is in an around the technology can better prepare us as learners and as staff to not get dupped into bogus email opening.


My name is Glenn and I’m an Information Technology Assurance Transfer. I work at MCC’s 180-Re-entry assistance program as a peer-mentor. A former office mate (Lyndsie Gibbs) encouraged me jump back into INFO SCI. and I really enjoy the learning and using the new technology available.