Author: Reg Jackson

You’ve probably seen many news stories about Facebook and how it handles your personal data. Many of us rely on the online service to keep in touch with family, plan a vacation, chat daily with friends. We rarely think about the digital footprints we leave, or who would ever want to follow our tracks.

Sure, we knew that being fed advertising was part of the deal to use the platform for free. But how many of us actually read the privacy statement when we started using the service? And how many of us noticed the changes they’ve made over time?

Interest in watching Team USA is high. As advertisers vie for your eyeballs with the American flag and the world-famous Olympic rings, it is easy to trust the message. However, just as you should be vigilant about counterfeit merchandise and ticket scams, you should also be aware of your email inbox.

Receive an email about an online lottery promotion where you can win tickets to PyeongChang? All you need to do to win is provide EVERY personal detail about you. What could go wrong, right?

Cyber criminals are naturally drawn to money -- your money. Financial aid awarded to students is a frequent target. This is a challenge for the university, as we often need to contact you about financial aid for legitimate reasons. It is important to recognize the difference between a valid email from Buckeye Link, and a phony one from an attacker. The image posted is an example of what an authorized financial aid email from Ohio State looks like.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF FINANCIAL AID EMAILS sent from Ohio state: