To help keep things merry and bright, Information Technology Services (ITS) reminds George Mason University employees and students to stay vigilant during the holidays and to take precautions before leaving for winter break.

Cybercriminals step up their efforts to steal from people during the holiday season. Beware of phishing attempts, which usually come through emails from strangers. Phishing emails may contain some kind of offer, downloads to malicious browser extensions, or links to fraudulent websites. Also, do not share usernames, passwords, or Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) codes with anyone. These requests come from cybercriminals trying to scam people.

 Before leaving for winter break, make sure to:

• Update operating systems on all devices.
• Update applications and make sure all devices have the latest versions installed.
• Log off all systems and turn off all non-essential devices, including computers, servers (if possible), printers, and monitors in offices and on-campus residences.
• Those who telework should log out of systems they are not using.

Did you get new devices during the holidays?  

Be sure to enroll new devices in Duo Security, George Mason’s provider for 2FA, and remove old devices.

• How to Enroll Additional 2FA Devices
• How to Remove an Enrolled 2FA Device

During the break, if you encounter phishing emails, have technical issues, or require assistance, please contact ITS Support 24/7 (even holidays) at 703-993-8870 or use Live Chat.