Beginning Friday, March 31, Pitt Information Technology will require all users of the of Online Survey System (Qualtrics) to complete a consent form if they wish to use the text message (SMS) distribution feature. The feature allows survey creators to send survey invitations to audiences via SMS messages. Beginning on March 31, SMS functionality will be deactivated in a users’ University Qualtrics account until they submit a completed consent form agreeing to the SMS feature’s acceptable use.

Qualtrics users with SMS activity in the last 12 months are being notified and encouraged to complete this consent form as soon as possible. The form can be used by SMS users to adjust their current SMS quotas, as well as be used by new users to request use of the feature. For each new Qualtrics survey that uses SMS distributions, creators must provide all recipients with the ability to opt in or opt out. An opt-in example is available here.

Please contact the Technology Help Desk at 412-624-HELP (4357) if you have any questions regarding this announcement. For more information about SMS use in Qualtrics, visit the vendor’s SMS Distributions support page and/or XM Community.

Pitt Information Technology is aware of another variation of the recent job opportunity phishing scams targeting the University of Pittsburgh community. The latest version of the scam appears to originate from a pitt.edu address and advertises a fictitious job as an administrative assistant. The message may use a variety of Subjects and asks recipients reply with their school schedule and an alternate email address. Below is a sample of the scam:

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Subject: POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT!

POSITION: ADMlNlSTRATlVE ASSlSTANT-REM0TE JOB 

POSITION SUMMARY:

Some DEPARTMENTS seek Assistants to assist some visiting professors by providing basic admin-duties remotely.

The Assistant will maintain and Liaise with staff, other DEPTS, and/or external organization concerning matters regarding assigned work as well as coordinating with the Director.

Weekly-Salary: $400 ($350 +$50 for miscellaneous + tax)

If Interested. Get in touch with [email address redacted] with an ALTERNATlVE EMAlL ADDRESS as well as your school schedule.

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If you received this message (or any message similar to it), please report it as a phishing scam by forwarding the email message as an attachment to phish@pitt.edu. Detailed instructions on reporting scams are available at http://technology.pitt.edu/phishingscams.

Pitt IT strongly recommends that you do not reply to unsolicited emails or emails from unverifiable sources. If you were not expecting to receive such an email, confirm with the sender prior to interacting with the message. If you must interact with the message, avoid clicking on links contained in such emails. These may lead to sites that contain malicious software, or sites that attempt to steal your credentials. If a link looks suspicious, you can hover over the link with your mouse to preview the URL without clicking on it.

In addition, Pitt IT recommends that all students, faculty, and staff install Antivirus and Anti-Malware (Malwarebytes) Protection. Departments can submit a help request to obtain Malwarebytes for multiple machines.

Please contact the Technology Help Desk at +1-412-624-HELP (4357) if you have any questions regarding this announcement.

Pitt Information Technology has identified two new email phishing scams targeting the University. Both may appear to originate from a pitt.edu address.

Scam 1: Your Office 365 Email Will Be Deleted

The first scam warns that your Office 365 email account will be deleted if you do not take action in 24 hours. It asks recipients to copy and paste a harmful link into their web browser and provide their username and password when prompted. Below is a sample of the scam.

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Subject: NOTICE BY ADMIN VERIFY YOUR OFFICE 365

Dear University of Pittsburgh    Staff/Student,

Renovation on our Servers and Administrative Software will take place.  We are excited about the new capabilities and services we will be able to offer students

Our records indicate that your office 365 has two different logins with two different school portals. Kindly indicate the two info logins as soon as possible. To avoid termination of the two school portals within 24hrs, we expect you to strictly adhere and address it

We will process your termination request shortly; You will lose all your emails associated with this account

If you have only one college account, fill in the correct user and passcode and submit. But if you are in a dual credit college, Pls fill in the correct username and password for both schools and submit

If you have no knowledge about the request process, kindly update to cancel the request below. 

Copy and paste the URL Below into the address bar of your web browser to cancel the request ( CLICK HERE)

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Scam 2: Fake Job Opportunity Scam

The second scam advertises a fictitious job as a personal assistant. The message may use a variety of Subjects and asks recipients to click a link to apply or request further details. Below is a sample of the scam.

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Subject: INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Hello, how are you doing? An administrative assistant to perform various administrative tasks like making or receiving payment and sending gifts, keeping record and processing paperwork when necessary with a good weekly pay is needed, please find the position and some basic information below.

Position: Personal Assistant

Type: Part-Time Job

Pay: $400 weekly

Hours: Average of 11hrs weekly

This position will be home-based and it's a flexible part time job, you can be working from home, School or any location. Click Here for further details or to sign up.

Job Placement & Student Services

Copyright ® 2023. All rights reserved

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If you received this message (or any message similar to it), please report it as a phishing scam by forwarding the email message as an attachment to phish@pitt.edu. Detailed instructions on reporting scams are available at http://technology.pitt.edu/phishingscams.

Pitt IT strongly recommends that you do not reply to unsolicited emails or emails from unverifiable sources. If you were not expecting to receive such an email, confirm with the sender prior to interacting with the message. If you must interact with the message, avoid clicking on links contained in such emails. These may lead to sites that contain malicious software, or sites that attempt to steal your credentials. If a link looks suspicious, you can hover over the link with your mouse to preview the URL without clicking on it.

In addition, Pitt IT recommends that all students, faculty, and staff install Antivirus and Anti-Malware (Malwarebytes) Protection. Departments can submit a help request to obtain Malwarebytes for multiple machines.

Please contact the Technology Help Desk at +1-412-624-HELP (4357) if you have any questions regarding this announcement.

As previously announced, Zoom now requires users to update to the latest minimum desktop version every 3 months — in this case, by Saturday, Feb. 4. Zoom may also require other periodic updates to address feature and security issues. Therefore, all Zoom users should be sure to download and install the most recent version of the Zoom desktop client or mobile app available from the Zoom download center. Affected users may need administrative (admin) rights on their computer to complete these changes.

After Feb. 4, users can continue to access the service from the Zoom Web Portal, but will not be able to join a meeting or log in using the Zoom client without taking the appropriate action listed above. Additional information about these updates is available from the vendor.

Please contact the Technology Help Desk at +1 412-624-HELP (4357) if you have any questions regarding this announcement.