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IT Bytes

DoIT provides timely computing information to students through IT Bytes, which appears monthly in a campus newspaper. IT Bytes includes usage tips, computing advice from the DoIT Help Desk, training schedules, information on new products available at the DoIT Tech Store, and more — all focused on the interests and needs of UW-Madison students.

No summer vacation from scams

The text message seems perfectly harmless. The email looks legit. The voice on the phone call sounds so friendly. But behind the smiling face might be someone who is trying to steal your personal information.

Summer is no time to let down your guard, because phishing attempts, fraudulent solicitations, counterfeit Web sites, and fake messages don’t take any vacation. Keep your personal data safe. Unless you initiated the contact, never give out this information:

• Any user login (your UW NetID, for example) and/or password

• Your Social Security number

• Your driver’s license number or state identification number

• Any financial account number (including credit/debit card) or any security code, access code or password that would permit access to an individual’s financial account

• Your deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profile, as defined in
Wisconsin Statute 939.74 (2d) (a)

• Your unique biometric data, including fingerprint, voice print, retina or iris image or any other unique physical representation

• Any protected health information (any information about health status, provision of health care, or payment of health care).

How can you tell whether a request for information is legitimate? See the Office of Campus Information Security (OCIS) site at www.cio.wisc.edu/security/scams.aspx for guidelines on identifying scams.

If you’re not sure about a request, don’t give out the information. Contact the DoIT Help Desk at (608) 264-HELP (4357) if you have questions.