Don’t email your passwords: Email is as transparent as a postcard
More and more email scams are generated everyday asking for personal information such as bank or credit card account numbers, social security numbers, usernames and passwords. These email scams often appear “legitimate” and “official” (e.g. they may include a corporate logo, name of a company, contact person, etc.); however, users that respond to such email scams often find that their accounts soon become compromised. One must be skeptical with what they receive in their mailbox. Emails from friends and family may also be scams since email addresses can easily be forged, copied and mass-distributed. So pay close attention to the sender of the email and who you are replying to.
Never share your password - Do not be fooled by suspicious emails asking you for your password. As a simple rule, never share it with anyone.
Change your password regularly - The simple act of changing your password will increase the chances that your email remains secure. It is a good idea to use a combination of numbers, letters and symbols when creating your password. This way it is much harder to break. Check the following link for guidelines on creating complex yet easy to remember passwords: http://www.itg.ias.edu/content/passwords-be-creative
If you believe your IAS username and password has been compromised, please report it to us as soon as possible, so we can ensure that all of the necessary steps are being taken to safeguard you and your fellow computer users.
Don't feel embarrassed if you have fallen for one of these scams. Protect yourself and reduce compromises – never send sensitive information through email. To learn more about this, visit https://www.ias.edu/security
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