Austin Community College District’s (ACC) Information Security team is issuing a friendly reminder to all faculty, staff, and students about the importance of online safety. In light of recent local and global events, there has been an increase in misleading content, scams, and impersonation attempts across both social media and email platforms.
Hacktivists and malicious actors frequently exploit moments of conflict or crisis to spread false information or deceive individuals into clicking harmful links. To help keep our community secure, InfoSec recommends keeping the following tips in mind:
Be cautious with social media content
Deepfakes and AI-generated images or videos are becoming increasingly common. These can look very convincing but may contain manipulated information. If a post triggers a strong emotional response or seems surprisingly urgent, take a moment to research the claim through trusted news or official sources before sharing it.
Look twice at your email
Advanced AI tools have made it easier for scammers to craft emails that look entirely legitimate. Before clicking links or opening attachments:
- Carefully verify the sender’s email address.
- Watch out for unexpected requests or urgent language.
- When in doubt, verify the message by contacting the sender through another trusted channel.
Stay aware during crisis events
Bad actors often leverage breaking news and current events to capture attention and prompt hasty reactions. Be mindful that messages or posts referencing crises may be explicitly designed to spread misinformation or launch phishing attempts.
Awareness is one of the best ways to protect yourself and the College. Taking a second or third look before clicking, sharing, or responding can make a big difference.
If you receive something suspicious or aren’t sure whether a message is legitimate, report it immediately to the Information Security team. Employees should forward suspicious emails to [email protected] or call the Service Desk at 512-223-8324.