Library News
Vermont Secondary College
Phishing Scams
Just a reminder to be aware of "Phishing" emails especially whilst in remote learning.
Simply put "Phishing" is like "fishing", online scammers send out mass emails hoping that some people receiving them will "bite" and click on their links. They may ask for personal information or for you to send money or sometimes they threaten that you have done something illegal and they have pictures of it that they will post onto social media if you don't pay up etc. If you receive an email like this the thing to do is
1. Do not reply
2. Do not click on any links
3. Delete email immediately and then delete it out of your " Deleted Items" folder
4. Check Windows for any updates you can make
5. Please inform our IT staff at itsupport@vermontsc.vic.edu.au
For more information on Phishing please check out the eSafety website
https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/staying-safe/online-scams-identity-theft
Here is an example of a " phishing email":
From: me@here.com
Sent: Sunday, 25 July 2021 5.14 AM
To: you@there.com
Subject: Important Updates
I am sorry to inform you that your device was compromised.
I’ll explain what led to all of this. I have used Zero Day vulnerability with a special code to infect your device through a website.
This is a complicated software that requires precise skills that I have. It works as as chain with specially crafted and unique code and that’s why this type of attack can go undetected.
You only need one not patched vulnerability to be infected, and unfortunately for you – it works that simple.
You were not targeted specifically, but just became one of the quite a few unlucky people who got hacked that day.
All of this happened a few month ago. So I’ve had time to collect information on you.
I think you already know what is going to happen next.
During that time, my software was quietly collecting information about your habits, websites that you visit, searches you do, text you send.
There is more to it, but I have listed a few reasons for you to understand how serious this is.
For you to clearly understand, my software controlled your camera and microphone as well and it was impossible for you to know about it.
It was just about right timing for me to get you privacy violated.
I’ve been waiting enough and have decided that it’s time to put an end to this.
So here is my offer, I need a consulting fee to delete the media content I have been collecting.
Your privacy stays untouched, if I get paid.
Otherwise, I will leak the most damaging content to your contacts and post it to a public tube for perverts to explore.
I understand how damaging this will be for you, and amount is not that big for you to keep your privacy. Please don’t blame me – we all have different ways of making a living.
I have no intention of destroying your reputation or life, but only if I get paid.
I don’t care about you personally, that’s why you can be sure that all files I have and software on your device will be deleted immediately after I receive the transfer.
I only care about getting paid.
My modest consulting fee is 1650 US Dollars transferred in Bitcoin. Exchange rate at the time of the transfer. You need to send that amount to this wallet:1njCE76GPLEgKVtoDB2vNKzlvw3U6ogMeS
The fee is non negotiable, to be transferred within 2 business days . We use Bitcoin to protect my identity.
Obviously do not try to ask for any help from anybody unless you want your privacy to be violated. I will monitor your every move until I get paid. IF you keep your end of the agreement, you wont hear from me ever again.
Take Care.
Please contact any of our helpful IT team if you are unsure about any suspicious emails.
Year 7 and 8 Optus Digital Thumbprint Workshops
We look forward to running the Optus Digital Thumbprint Workshops for all our year 7 and 8 students
across Aug 16 - 18. Students will be informed of their workshop times shortly