%PDF-1.3 1 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Outlines 2 0 R /Pages 3 0 R >> endobj 2 0 obj << /Type /Outlines /Count 0 >> endobj 3 0 obj << /Type /Pages /Kids [6 0 R 25 0 R ] /Count 2 /Resources << /ProcSet 4 0 R /Font << /F1 8 0 R /F2 9 0 R /F3 10 0 R /F4 11 0 R >> /XObject << /I1 24 0 R >> >> /MediaBox [0.000 0.000 612.000 792.000] >> endobj 4 0 obj [/PDF /Text /ImageC ] endobj 5 0 obj << /Creator (DOMPDF) /CreationDate (D:20250717134814+00'00') /ModDate (D:20250717134814+00'00') /Title (Report 07-2025) >> endobj 6 0 obj << /Type /Page /Parent 3 0 R /Annots [ 12 0 R 14 0 R 16 0 R 18 0 R 20 0 R 22 0 R ] /Contents 7 0 R >> endobj 7 0 obj << /Length 7931 >> stream 0.702 0.800 0.816 rg 34.016 34.016 543.969 723.969 re f 1.000 1.000 1.000 rg 45.266 80.351 521.469 666.383 re f 0.773 0.773 0.773 rg 0.773 0.773 0.773 RG 45.266 746.734 m 566.734 746.734 l 565.984 745.984 l 46.016 745.984 l f 566.734 746.734 m 566.734 80.351 l 565.984 80.351 l 565.984 745.984 l f 45.266 746.734 m 45.266 80.351 l 46.016 80.351 l 46.016 745.984 l f 0.200 0.200 0.200 rg BT 61.016 693.716 Td /F1 14.4 Tf [(SARS PHISHING SCAM FROM SUN EMAIL)] TJ ET 0.400 0.400 0.400 rg BT 61.016 664.909 Td /F2 9.0 Tf [(Posted on )] TJ ET BT 104.045 664.909 Td /F3 9.0 Tf [(January 01,1970)] TJ ET BT 173.588 664.909 Td /F2 9.0 Tf [( by )] TJ ET BT 188.096 664.909 Td /F3 9.0 Tf [(IT Communications)] TJ ET 0.153 0.153 0.153 rg BT 61.016 637.420 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(If you receive an email with the subject SARS eFilings from any university email account, do not respond or click on the )] TJ ET BT 61.016 626.431 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(link. This is not a legitimate email from SARS.)] TJ ET BT 61.016 606.442 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(The suspicious email is being sent from compromised staff email accounts informing users that "An EMP Statement of )] TJ ET BT 61.016 595.453 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(Account for the tax payer listed below has been issued by SARS" and you "need to log into the google doc with your )] TJ ET BT 61.016 584.464 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(correct details to view the document". \(as shown in example below\):)] TJ ET BT 61.016 564.475 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(It is important that you help us by spreading the word, informing us about suspicious mails and letting your colleagues and )] TJ ET BT 61.016 553.486 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(friends know about the scams. You are our eyes and ears, and your input, information and questions are extremely )] TJ ET BT 61.016 542.497 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(valuable.)] TJ ET BT 61.016 522.508 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(When you click on links and provide your information on phishing emails, criminals will be able to gain access to your )] TJ ET BT 61.016 511.519 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(personal information. If you clicked on the link of this phishing email, immediately go to the www.sun.ac.za/useradm )] TJ ET BT 61.016 500.530 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(website and change the passwords on all your university accounts.)] TJ ET BT 61.016 480.541 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(Remember that once the phishers lose control of one compromised account they might simply move over to another )] TJ ET BT 61.016 469.552 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(account and they might also close the website they were using once it is blocked by us and would use another one that )] TJ ET BT 61.016 458.563 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(looks and acts in the same way.Currently, the phishers are servers in Europe to launch their attacks.This is a common )] TJ ET BT 61.016 447.574 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(tactic with a spear-phishing attack such as this.)] TJ ET BT 61.016 425.785 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(To help us, please:)] TJ ET 0.153 0.153 0.153 RG 85.866 408.612 m 85.866 409.024 85.696 409.434 85.404 409.726 c 85.113 410.017 84.703 410.187 84.291 410.187 c 83.878 410.187 83.469 410.017 83.177 409.726 c 82.885 409.434 82.716 409.024 82.716 408.612 c 82.716 408.200 82.885 407.790 83.177 407.498 c 83.469 407.207 83.878 407.037 84.291 407.037 c 84.703 407.037 85.113 407.207 85.404 407.498 c 85.696 407.790 85.866 408.200 85.866 408.612 c f BT 91.016 405.796 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(continue to watch out for mail like or similar to this and do NOT respond to it, click on links or provide your email )] TJ ET BT 91.016 394.807 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(address username or password)] TJ ET 85.866 386.634 m 85.866 387.046 85.696 387.456 85.404 387.748 c 85.113 388.039 84.703 388.209 84.291 388.209 c 83.878 388.209 83.469 388.039 83.177 387.748 c 82.885 387.456 82.716 387.046 82.716 386.634 c 82.716 386.222 82.885 385.812 83.177 385.520 c 83.469 385.229 83.878 385.059 84.291 385.059 c 84.703 385.059 85.113 385.229 85.404 385.520 c 85.696 385.812 85.866 386.222 85.866 386.634 c f BT 91.016 383.818 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(report the new phishing mail to the correct e-mail addresses of Information Technology Cyber Security using the )] TJ ET BT 91.016 372.829 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(method added to the bottom of this post)] TJ ET 85.866 364.656 m 85.866 365.068 85.696 365.478 85.404 365.770 c 85.113 366.061 84.703 366.231 84.291 366.231 c 83.878 366.231 83.469 366.061 83.177 365.770 c 82.885 365.478 82.716 365.068 82.716 364.656 c 82.716 364.244 82.885 363.834 83.177 363.542 c 83.469 363.251 83.878 363.081 84.291 363.081 c 84.703 363.081 85.113 363.251 85.404 363.542 c 85.696 363.834 85.866 364.244 85.866 364.656 c f BT 91.016 361.840 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(remember, just because a mail comes from a student or a personnel e-mail address and has university )] TJ ET BT 91.016 350.851 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(branding does not mean in any way that it is legitimate)] TJ ET BT 61.016 330.862 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(If you have received mail that looks like this please immediately report it to the Information Technology Security Team )] TJ ET BT 61.016 319.873 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(using the following method: \(especially if it comes from a university address\))] TJ ET BT 78.360 299.900 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(1.)] TJ ET BT 91.016 299.884 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(Start up a new mail addressed to )] TJ ET 0.373 0.169 0.255 rg BT 225.080 299.884 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(sysadm@sun.ac.za)] TJ ET 0.373 0.169 0.255 RG 0.18 w 0 J [ ] 0 d 225.080 298.733 m 303.740 298.733 l S 0.153 0.153 0.153 rg BT 303.740 299.884 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [( \(CC: )] TJ ET 0.373 0.169 0.255 rg BT 327.239 299.884 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(help@sun.ac.za)] TJ ET 0.18 w 0 J [ ] 0 d 327.239 298.733 m 391.904 298.733 l S 0.153 0.153 0.153 rg BT 391.904 299.884 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(\))] TJ ET BT 78.360 288.911 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(2.)] TJ ET BT 91.016 288.895 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(Use the Title SPAM \(without quotes\) in the Subject.)] TJ ET BT 78.360 277.922 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(3.)] TJ ET BT 91.016 277.906 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(With this New Mail window open, drag the suspicious spam/phishing mail from your Inbox into the New Mail )] TJ ET BT 91.016 266.917 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(Window. It will attach the mail as an enclosure and a small icon with a light yellow envelope will appear in the )] TJ ET BT 91.016 255.928 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(attachments section of the New Mail.)] TJ ET BT 78.360 244.955 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(4.)] TJ ET BT 91.016 244.939 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(Send the mail.)] TJ ET BT 61.016 224.950 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(IF YOU HAVE FALLEN FOR THE SCAM:)] TJ ET BT 61.016 204.961 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(If you did click on the link of this phishing spam and unwittingly give the scammers your username, e-mail address and )] TJ ET BT 61.016 193.972 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(password you should immediately go to )] TJ ET 0.373 0.169 0.255 rg BT 221.081 193.972 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(http://www.sun.ac.za/useradm)] TJ ET 0.18 w 0 J [ ] 0 d 221.081 192.821 m 341.627 192.821 l S 0.153 0.153 0.153 rg BT 341.627 193.972 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [( and change the passwords on ALL your university )] TJ ET BT 61.016 182.983 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(accounts \(making sure the new password is completely different, and is a strong password that will not be easily )] TJ ET BT 61.016 171.994 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(guessed.\) as well as changing the passwords on your social media and private e-mail accounts \(especially if you use the )] TJ ET BT 61.016 161.005 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(same passwords on these accounts.\))] TJ ET BT 61.016 141.016 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(For more information on reporting and combating phishing and spam:)] TJ ET 0.373 0.169 0.255 rg BT 339.638 141.016 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(http://blogs.sun.ac.za/it/en/2017/11/reporting-spam-)] TJ ET 0.18 w 0 J [ ] 0 d 339.638 139.865 m 545.243 139.865 l S BT 61.016 130.027 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [(malware-and-phishing/)] TJ ET 0.18 w 0 J [ ] 0 d 61.016 128.876 m 152.042 128.876 l S 0.153 0.153 0.153 rg BT 402.934 110.038 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [([Information supplied by David Wiles])] TJ ET BT 61.016 90.049 Td /F4 9.0 Tf [()] TJ ET q 225.000 0 0 145.500 61.016 427.766 cm /I1 Do Q endstream endobj 8 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F1 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Bold /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 9 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F2 /BaseFont /Helvetica-Oblique /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 10 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F3 /BaseFont /Helvetica-BoldOblique /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 11 0 obj << /Type /Font /Subtype /Type1 /Name /F4 /BaseFont /Helvetica /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding >> endobj 12 0 obj << /Type /Annot /Subtype /Link /A 13 0 R /Border [0 0 0] /H /I /Rect [ 61.0157 427.7659 286.0157 573.2659 ] >> endobj 13 0 obj << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://blogs.sun.ac.za/it/files/2018/08/burden.jpg) >> endobj 14 0 obj << /Type /Annot /Subtype /Link /A 15 0 R /Border [0 0 0] /H /I /Rect [ 225.0797 299.0512 303.7397 308.2087 ] >> endobj 15 0 obj << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (mailto:sysadm@sun.ac.za) >> endobj 16 0 obj << /Type /Annot /Subtype /Link /A 17 0 R /Border [0 0 0] /H /I /Rect [ 327.2387 299.0512 391.9037 308.2087 ] >> endobj 17 0 obj << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (mailto:help@sun.ac.za) >> endobj 18 0 obj << /Type /Annot /Subtype /Link /A 19 0 R /Border [0 0 0] /H /I /Rect [ 221.0807 193.1392 341.6267 202.2967 ] >> endobj 19 0 obj << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://www.sun.ac.za/useradm) >> endobj 20 0 obj << /Type /Annot /Subtype /Link /A 21 0 R /Border [0 0 0] /H /I /Rect [ 339.6377 140.1832 545.2427 149.3407 ] >> endobj 21 0 obj << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://blogs.sun.ac.za/it/en/2017/11/reporting-spam-malware-and-phishing/) >> endobj 22 0 obj << /Type /Annot /Subtype /Link /A 23 0 R /Border [0 0 0] /H /I /Rect [ 61.0157 129.1942 152.0417 138.3517 ] >> endobj 23 0 obj << /Type /Action /S /URI /URI (http://blogs.sun.ac.za/it/en/2017/11/reporting-spam-malware-and-phishing/) >> endobj 24 0 obj << /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 300 /Height 194 /ColorSpace /DeviceRGB /Filter /DCTDecode /BitsPerComponent 8 /Length 10899>> stream JFIF;CREATOR: gd-jpeg v1.0 (using IJG JPEG v62), quality = 82 C    !'"#%%%),($+!$%$C   $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$," }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?K^tAm챷̹dwӿ% O<km:+YG'1RYjpYlPAS(QF(1F(1@b(b (QEQE% O𿄭 27Opr9Kڕ>st+Y,tKyWl p{֕72(ʿfYDj$+_'mYz"0W ]k3vr5մ GQrH Vf<09dGm>e l% @9}Əg=ᴙLs{\x?IJFb+Tbp}Ǡ8MFI2 ۙUQ~i qQv"xlYBHdv nr{ }hKl6bg/'j)옷Xϻ8}jZʶ6O"ó`0n˵Z{,Wlp9݌ӚBvdW=,&XXmj&8 ۛ$|zS vP>b=:`=k7^-[pѤɸg88݃Oo&vq:+x\A*Epf91qĭ'}fl(m vۥtTW:.P,c+1 1Sj;EʖH{h:\4PSzd0Oüw>%Y\<|7NI<~Ess>&2ٶqm'`9hhwz vpP!9sy J()i{, *违UdXgv ǀ>S󬮡;w}8|L|(_Ώ:8AvTzE qks:H<YR,{Ev ] *?vܰiOfdծ?ypLc=ԔEx L,7; 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MAILBOX FULL phishing message

Tuesday, August 15th, 2017

A phishing email with the subject MAILBOX FULL has been sent from an internal SU staff member’s account. (See below for example with links removed)

Remember that spear-phishing email always appears to come from a trusted source like a university address and because it might seem to come from someone we know personally, there is a greater potential danger. Note that even if it says Microsoft, there’s no indication of branding. Official communication from IT will always be branded and look the same. Also, note the multiple spelling errors and suspiciously bad language. 

Do NOT click on any of the included links in the email or enter your username or password. You should never do this at any time. If you follow the link and supply your information, it will be used by phishing criminals to gain access to your bank details. 

If you have any inquiries, please let us know by logging a request on ServiceNow or calling our Service Desk at 808 4367. For more information on this and other phishing attacks, refer to our blog and Twitter account.


From: SU Staff, Mev <mevsustaff@sun.ac.za>
Sent: Tuesday, 15 August 2017 12:18 PM
Subject: Mailbox Full

Your mailbox is full and you have 3 mails pending. kindly increase the storage capacity of your mailbox account. Increase the storage capacity by clicking below

             storage increase

Fill out the instruction in order to increase the storage capacity to continue using your email account inorder to avoid being disconnected.

©Copyright 2017 Microsoft

All Right Reserved.

More information on current phishing attack

Monday, August 7th, 2017

The university is in the middle of a serious spear-phishing attack and is the direct target of a group of criminals who have registered and set up a South African website to fool university users into providing their e-mail addresses, usernames and passwords. 

Undoubtedly the same criminal cartel is now using e-mail accounts that were compromised in the last attack. (This time a senior lecturer at Stellenbosch Campus) The registered a South African domain name and have disguised the website to look like the university’s WebMail Login page.

Spear phishing is an email-spoofing attack that targets a specific organization or individual like the university and is not typically initiated by random hackers, but by perpetrators out for financial gain. As with emails used in regular phishing expeditions, spear-phishing messages appear to come from a trusted source. This case a sun.ac.za address. The apparent source of the email is likely to be an individual within the recipient’s own company — generally, someone in a position of authority — or from someone the target knows personally, thus its potential danger.

It is important that you do NOT click on any of the included links in the mail or enter your username or password. You should never do this at any time, as Information Technology would never ask you to do so!

Just because the mail looks legitimate and the web page *looks* like it is genuine, does not make it so.

If you have received mail that looks like this please immediately report it to the Information Technology Security Team using the following method:

Send the spam/phishing mail to help@sun.ac.za

If you did click on the link of this phishing spam and unwittingly give the scammers your username, e-mail address and password you should immediately go to http://www.sun.ac.za/useradm and change the passwords on ALL your university accounts (making sure the new password is completely different, and is a strong password that will not be easily guessed.) as well as changing the passwords on your social media and private email accounts (especially if you use the same passwords on these accounts.)

Please be careful out there. These criminals are now targeting the university, no doubt based on their past successes. Keep alert and on the lookout.

[Article by David Wiles]

PHISHING: “IT HelpDesk”

Monday, August 7th, 2017

A phishing attack on Stellenbosch University via an internal sun email address was launched this morning. See the example below. (links have been removed)

Please do not click on this email, do not fill in your personal information and delete the email immediately. If follow the link and supply your information, it will be used by phishing criminals to gain access to your bank details. See the example below.

If you have any inquiries, please let us know by logging a request on ServiceNow or calling our Service Desk at 808 4367. For more information on this and other phishing attacks, refer to our blog and Twitter account.


From:SU staff member <fakesustaffaddress@sun.ac.za>
Sent: Monday, 07 August 2017 07:24
Subject: IT HelpDesk With the strengthening off our security system and improving your mailing experience, We have detected your mail settings are out of date. To enhance computer system security and comply with federal audit requirements, ITS requires all Sever Users to update their account , kindly click ITS to update your account to the latest Outlook Web App. Sign in and automatically update your mailbox by filling out the requirements correctly.

With the strengthening off our security system and improving your mailing experience, We have detected your mail settings are out of date. To enhance computer system security and comply with federal audit requirements, ITS requires all Sever Users to update their account , kindly click ITS to update your account to the latest Outlook Web App. Sign in and automatically update your mailbox by filling out the requirements correctly.
___________________
Thanks
Sincerely,
ITS Service Desk
Click Here To Upadate with your correct Login Details.

PHISHING: SABC TV Licence payment request

Wednesday, July 26th, 2017

The SABC slogan goes: “Pay your TV licence. It’s the right thing to do” or something to that effect. Falling for this phishing scam, will NOT be the right thing to do.

This phishing scam from the “SABC” about payment of your TV Licence, is very clever as it uses a so-called encrypted-PDF to capture data like the victim’s ID Number, Passport Number or Company Registration number. Once the data is captured, it asks you for banking account details etc. to do the “payment” for a TV Licence. The data is captured by the PDF, which is then sent to a server controlled by the criminals, who will use it to defraud them of their money.

This is what the phishing email looks like (with the dangerous parts removed):


From: forged_address@lettersonline.co.za [mailto:forged_address@lettersonline.co.za]
Sent: Monday, 24 July 2017 13:14
To: University, Address <noreply@sun.ac.za> <noreply@sun.ac.za>

Subject: SABC requires you to make payment on your TV license account

Hi,
Please find attached correspondence for your attention. The attachment is password protect.

The password for the attachment will be one of the following three options:
1. Your ID Number
2. Your Passport Number
3. Your Company Registration Number

Kind Regards
LettersOnline Team


The PDF attachment will ask you for a password if you open it.  Do not open or enter any details on this PDF. The SABC will never send you an email with a link or attached file to demand that you pay your licence. Neither will they send an unbranded mail or with no personalised salutation.

[Article by David Wiles]

PHISHING: Exceeded mailbox limit

Monday, July 24th, 2017

This week’s Monday morning phishing scam is in the form of a rather poorly worded “WARNING” about exceeding the limit of your email.

The three exclamation marks (!!!) in the Subject line should immediately be a warning. Just because it comes from “Stellenbosch University Upgrade Team 2017” doesn’t guarantee that it is genuine!

Here is what the phishing email looks like (With the dangerous parts removed):


From: Stellenbosch University Upgrade Team 2017 [mailto:forged_address@webmail.co.za]

Sent: Monday, 24 July 2017 10:49 AM

Subject: Urgent Notification !!!

Urgent notification ,

You have exceeded your mail limit , Your account will be blocked from sending and receiving messages if your account is not been upgraded, upgrade your account free now Via the weblink Below :

http://dont_click.on.this.link

If your account have been upgraded please ignore this, this is for all student and stafs please Thank you.

Webmail © 2017

Email: forged_address@webmail.co.za


Here are # tips below can help you spot a  phishing scam:

  1. Unofficial “From” address. Look out for a sender’s email address that is similar to, but not the same as, a company’s official email address. These email addresses are meant to fool you.
  2. Urgent action required. Fraudsters often include urgent “calls to action” to try to get you to react immediately. Be wary of emails containing phrases like “your account will be closed,” “your account has been compromised,” or “urgent action required.” The fraudster is taking advantage of your concern to trick you into providing confidential information.
  3. Generic salutation. Fraudsters often send thousands of phishing emails at one time. They may have your email address, but they seldom have your name. Be sceptical of an email sent with a generic greeting such as “Dear Customer” or “Dear Member”.
  4. Link to a fake web site. To trick you into disclosing your user name and password, fraudsters often include a link to a fake web site that looks like (sometimes exactly like) the sign-in page of a legitimate web site. Just because a site includes a company’s logo or looks like the real page doesn’t mean it is!
  5. Spelling errors, poor grammar, or inferior graphics.
  6. Requests for personal information such as your password, user name, or bank account or credit card number. Legitimate companies will never ask you to verify or provide confidential information in an unsolicited email.
  7. Attachments (which usually contain viruses, malware or ransomware).

If you have received mail that looks like this please immediately report it to the Information Technology Security Team using the following method:

Send the spam/phishing mail to the following addresses

help@sun.ac.za and sysadm@sun.ac.za as well.

Attach the phishing or suspicious mail on to the message if possible. There is a good tutorial on how to do this at the following link (Which is safe): http://stbsp01.stb.sun.ac.za/innov/it/it-help/Wiki%20Pages/Spam%20sysadmin%20Eng.aspx

  1. Start up a new email addressed to sysadm@sun.ac.za (CC: csirt@sun.ac.za and help@sun.ac.za
  2. Use the Title “SPAM” (without quotes) in the Subject.
  3. With this New Mail window open, drag the suspicious spam/phishing mail from your Inbox into the New Mail Window. It will attach the email as an enclosure and a small icon with a light yellow envelope will appear in the attachments section of the New Mail.
  4. Send the email.

If you did click on the link of this phishing spam and unwittingly give the scammers your username, e-mail address and password you should immediately go to http://www.sun.ac.za/useradm and change the passwords on ALL your university accounts (making sure the new password is completely different, and is a strong password that will not be easily guessed.) as well as changing the passwords on your social media and private email accounts (especially if you use the same passwords on these accounts.)

[Article by David Wiles]

 

 

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