August 17, 2026

Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility

Now is the time of year to be particularly aware and diligent about cybersecurity. As we begin a new semester, the Office of Information Technology wants to remind SIU Carbondale faculty, staff and students that they play an essential role in protecting the university’s digital environment.

Bad actors with malicious intent are aware that when campus communities are filled with back-to-campus energy and excitement people become more vulnerable to cyber threats.  

SIU is not immune to these threats. In fact, the campus recently experienced repeated attempts by malicious actors to bypass university security measures. As a campus, we have strong measures in place, but people still play an important role in any cybersecurity defense. Don’t become the next victim. A few moments of caution combined with healthy skepticism can protect individual accounts, prevent compromised credentials from being used in an attack, and help safeguard the broader university community.

Taking the time to remind students to be diligent helps protect the entire campus community.

Be aware and cautious

Be more thoughtful about cybersecurity — be aware and cautious when dealing with unexpected communication in any form, including emails, text messages, and phone calls.

Common traits of suspicious content include:

  • Unexpected requests for urgent action or sensitive information: Do not engage. Delete the message.
  • Links in emails or text messages: Do not click on these links unless you are confident the message is legitimate.
  • Unexpected attachments: Do not open unknown or unexplained attachments; these may contain malware.

If you feel compelled to click on a link or attachment — think twice, and when in doubt, do not engage.

Remember: The university will never email, text, or call you to request your password, multi-factor authorization (MFA) code or other sensitive personal information.

What to do with suspicious communications

  • Report suspected phishing emails through the Report Phishing button in Outlook.
  • Delete any emails or texts that seem suspicious.

An important reminder

If you click on a link, open an attachment, share information, or believe your account may be compromised, contact SalukiTech. If you suspect you are a victim of cybercrime or identity theft report the crime to local law enforcement and go to identitytheft.gov to understand options and remedies. This site explains how to prevent and/or manage compromised identity, sensitive data, and financial accounts.

If SIU measures determine an account is compromised, access is immediately locked. Before access is restored, visual verification via a video call with SalukiTech or an in-person visit to the SalukiTech help desk is REQUIRED. Without exception, you must show a valid form of identification to restore the account.

The SalukiTech help desk is on the first floor of Faner Hall and is open during standard business hours. For more information, contact SalukiTech at salukitech@siu.edu or 618-453-5155.