In Fall 2025, OIT Security, in partnership with TekStream, launched the University’s first Student Security Operations Center (SOC) Workforce Development Program, welcoming an inaugural cohort of eight students. This program is designed to provide hands-on experience in cybersecurity while addressing a critical national need: the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals in the United States. Throughout…
OIT is aware that several faculty & staff members across campus have received text messages from an individual claiming to be “Dr. Stuart R. Bell.” Please be aware that these messages are phishing attempts designed to deceive and potentially harm recipients. What You Need to Do: Reporting Links: Your vigilance and prompt reporting are crucial…
To prioritize security and safeguard sensitive university and personal data, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) will be blocking built-in browser password management tools for the Office of Information Technology on UA-managed computers beginning February 18, 2025. This proactive measure is designed to avoid built-in password manager vulnerabilities and encourage using more robust password management…
We want to bring to your attention a concerning trend that has been on the rise recently: smishing scams impersonating UA leadership. “Smishing” is a term used to describe phishing scams that occur via SMS or text messages. These fraudulent messages may appear to be from President Bell or another university official, and they often…
As AI grows in popularity, staying aware of potential risks and challenges associated with these powerful technologies is essential. AI undoubtedly provides significant value to daily tasks and research, but it is crucial to exercise caution and diligence when leveraging AI products. The data input into these tools is often used to train future AI…
The University of Alabama has a policy in place to ensure the security of its digital communications and data. The policy requires adherence to the minimum security standards, which state employees, contractors, and non-student affiliates are explicitly prohibited from configuring mail clients to automatically forward UA email to personal accounts or other companies or institutions without prior,…
On Monday, June 5, many UA students, faculty and staff received a scam email. The subject of the message could be “Now Hiring for Summer Employment” or a variation related to employment, and it appears to be from a Winthrop University email about “The Dimax Centre for Disability Services Council.” This is not a message…
On Tuesday, May 9, someone who appears to be a former student posted on the Alabama Student Ticket Exchange Facebook page, offering to make a master list for students’ class assignments. Remember to NEVER give out your MyBama login information or CWID to someone on the internet.
Many faculty, staff, and students utilize LastPass as a password management tool to store passwords in an encrypted environment. On December 22, LastPass informed its customers of a potential cyber security incident that could compromise the passwords stored in their accounts. LastPass discovered that in November 2022, a copy of the customer password vaults had…
Beginning in January 2023, OIT will implement new email security features to help students, faculty and staff better recognize phishing emails. These new security measures utilize mailbox intelligence and recognize email user patterns. Outlook will provide safety tips for inbound mail that comes from new or unusual senders. Below is a screenshot example. The mailbox…
