Keeping Your Online Accounts Safe

A recent UCnet article reported on efforts by online attackers to steal financial information from UC staff. In light of these attempts targeting members of the UC community, here are some reminders for keeping your online accounts safe.

Use caution with UC credentials
Take a moment before entering your entering your username, login ID or password on any webpage. Hackers often exploit moments when you’re distracted, so be wary of unexpected links, login requests, or messages asking for your information. Only use official UC login pages for your username and password, and never approve a Duo authentication request you didn’t initiate, even if you receive multiple prompts.

Be sure to verify sources
Always confirm the legitimacy of a site before logging in. Make sure you’re on an authentic UC login page by checking the sender’s email address, the website URL and the page itself for any errors or inconsistencies. If anything seems off, don’t continue — report it instead. Cybercriminals may create convincing fake login pages, so inspect them carefully and avoid moving forward if something seems unusual.

Consider bookmarking frequently visited UC websites
To avoid accidentally visiting fraudulent sites through misleading ads or search results, bookmark the UC websites you use regularly, like the Retirement Administration Service Center (RASC) portal and UCnet. Also, try not to click on links from unfamiliar sources or third parties.

Read the full UCnet article to learn more about how to protect yourself online.