IT Helpdesk

We are aware of a critical security issue affecting Microsoft Outlook on Windows devices. An essential update to mitigate the issue will be automatically applied to all SSD and MyDevice devices. Your device may be automatically rebooted to allow for the update.

If you have a device that is not managed by the University, we strongly recommend that you update your device as soon as possible.

How to update a Windows device. 

If you have previously received your MFA verification codes via SMS (text message), you may now start seeing these codes coming through WhatsApp. This will only occur if you have WhatsApp installed on your mobile device. The first time you receive a WhatsApp verification code, you will also receive an SMS message from Microsoft alerting you to the change.

If you don’t have internet connectivity or you uninstall WhatsApp, you will receive your verification codes by SMS instead.

Find out more about phone authentication methods.

We strongly recommend setting up the Microsoft Authenticator app to enable secure authentication – set up the Authenticator app.

From 14 October 2025, Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10. This means that all Windows PCs and laptops must be upgraded to Windows 11 before October 2025.  

You will see a notification from Microsoft on your device when it is time to upgrade to Windows 11. Just follow the steps to complete your upgrade.   

If your device is managed by the University, for example, SSD or MyDevice, the upgrade will be scheduled to take place in the coming months.  

Please be aware that this is a major update and could take up to 24 hours to complete, so please ensure that you are prepared to complete the upgrade, with the device connected to a power source throughout. You may wish to complete the upgrade outside of your normal working hours, or work on another device if possible.

Find out more about upgrading to Windows 11.

We have received reports of scam emails which appear to come from University colleagues, asking staff and students to purchase items including gift cards. 

If you have received an email that may be a scam, please report it through the IT: Security Help form in UofG Helpdesk. Do not open attachments, click links or share personal details.

How to spot a scam email 

If you receive any unexpected emails, even if they appear to come from someone you trust, think: 

• Are you being asked for money or personal details?
• Does the email address of the sender look right?  
• Do the URLs of any links look right? (you can ‘hover’ over a link to see its real address)  
• Are attachments in the format you would expect?  

What if I have interacted with a scam email? 

If you think you may have interacted with a scam email, for example clicking links, opening attachments, making payments or sharing details, the Information Security team can help. Get in touch using the IT: Security Help form in UofG Helpdesk.