I'd like to thank Brian Lynch, of our IT Department for sharing this important message with regard to safe email handling and holiday shopping scams.
With so many of us shopping online this holiday season, emails from retailers detailing our order and shipping information have become a frequent sight in our inboxes. That’s why I wanted to take this opportunity to warn you of fraudulent emails that have been making the rounds, appearing to contain package tracking information from UPS or FedEx.
Clicking on the links in these fraudulent emails will often install malware on your computer that encrypts your files and attempts to “ransom” them by making you pay for their release. Anti-virus and anti-malware programs do not always detect this software in time. This particular malware has recently been creating significant problems for consumers and businesses alike.
The best defense is not to click on any embedded links in emails that appear to contain shipping and tracking information. Instead, visit the retailer or mail carrier website directly to verify your order and tracking information. Following this simple precaution will help prevent a headache that none of us want during the holidays or any other time!
On a related note, please remember that if your computer uses Windows XP, it will no onger be supported by Microsoft starting in April 2014. This is an important consideration when ensuring that your computer has the latest security precautions and software. If you’re thinking about a software or hardware upgrade, please be on the lookout for savings available through holiday promotions.
Happy Holidays,
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