Email security advice from IT Services

The Internet is awash with bogus emails containing viruses, malicious code or attempts to 'phish' your details often relating to invoices or awards and appearing to come from the University, businesses, banks, Royal Mail and other carriers, friends and colleagues, etc.

Please treat ALL unsolicited email with suspicion, regardless of whether or not the sender appears to be an organisation or person that you think that you can trust.

The University will NEVER ask you for your details via e-mail.

Attackers can use email to infect your computer with malware/viruses, or obtain passwords or other personal details via deception. Often, the sender details are fake, with genuine-looking emails appearing to come from some other organisation, or even some part of the University, such as IT Services, "The Helpdesk", or "The System Administrator".

Email safety advice

  • Treat all unsolicited or unexpected email with suspicion, regardless of whether or not the sender appears to be an organisation or person that you think that you can trust.
  • Avoid clicking on links, or opening attachments in unsolicited email. 
  • Never respond to an email asking for passwords
  •  Never click on a link in an email and then type your password. Instead, when visiting any website that requires a password, use any one of the following safe methods:
  • Visit the University home page or MyGlasgow, then navigate from there
  • Use a desktop icon or a "bookmark" you saved earlier
  • Carefully type the URL address by hand

Always err on the side of caution.  If you are ever in doubt whether an email is genuine, please contact the IT Helpdesk.

First published: 31 August 2016

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