Skip to main content


Repost Message will copy the article into draft mode and enable you to edit/change dates and information.
Do not change the dates of this posting because it will affect the original.

MCC Daily Tribune

Technical Support Tips: Recent Phishing Attack

No one at the college should ever ask for your MCC password. Additionally, you should never tell anyone your MCC password.

Seems like everyone got the email phishing attack the other day. YOU are the first line of defense for protecting your accounts here and at home. Having your information compromised is a horrible experience. It's easy to read an email or a web page a little too quickly and click on a link. Below are some reminders on how to avoid being a victim.

What is a phishing attack?

Phishing is a form of social engineering. Phishing attacks use email or malicious websites to solicit personal information by posing as a trustworthy organization. An attacker may send email seemingly from a reputable person, credit card company or financial institution that requests account information, often suggesting that there is a problem. When users respond with the requested information, attackers can use it to gain access to their accounts.

How do you avoid being a victim?

  • Take the Cybersecurity training. To find it, go to the Tech tab in myMCC. Click on the Cybersecurity Awareness Training link under Technology Links. On the sign in page use the dropdown to select Monroe as the campus and click on the Login button.
  • Be suspicious of email messages, phone calls, or visits from individuals asking about password and user names, employees or other internal information. If an unknown individual claims to be from a legitimate organization, try to verify his or her identity directly with the company.
  • Do not reveal personal or financial information in email, and do not respond to email solicitations for this information. Do not follow links sent in email.
  • Don't send sensitive information over the Internet before checking a website's security.
  • Pay attention to the URL of a website. Malicious websites may look identical to a legitimate site, but the URL may use a variation in spelling or a different domain (e.g., .com vs. .net).
  • Install and maintain your anti-virus software, firewalls, and email filters to reduce some of this traffic. Our MCC Communication and Network Services team maintains the anti-virus and firewalls of your computer at MCC. At MCC there are email filters are in place. To make our filters better please forward phishing and spam emails to spamsubmission@monroecc.edu.

Overall the college employees did great and recognized this as a phishing attack. Thank you for your vigilance.

Christine Gallion
Communications and Network Services
02/09/2018