An image of a letter being caught by a fishing pole with the text "Gone Phishing"


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Virus: auto-Printer notification

Why this looks valid

  • Receiving a printer document or fax message via email is a common way to receive files
  • PDF attachments are a popular method of sending documents via email

Why this is a virus

  • There is no information that identifies the sender of the file - valid attachments would normally contain key information that identifies a valid sender
  • The message is incredibly unclear, as it claims to be from a printer, fax, and shared document all at the same time

Additional notes

  • Viruses sent by email can be detrimental to the safety of both Marist College data and any individual's personal information: these attachments can install malicious plugins in your browsers, steal passwords, install malicious cookies and web trackers, or install malicious code (even ransomware) on your computer
  • Did you know:  the safest way to look at an attachment is using the Outlook web interface, where a preview mode lets you see the content safely (although it is always safest to report it first and let your friends at Gone Phishing evaluate it!)
  • Always report suspicious emails such as as this one to phishing@marist.edu - we take steps to remediate malicious emails to make sure they don't negatively impact any members of the community
  • Report it to Microsoft. In Outlook on the Web, click the Junk menu, and select Phishing
  • Unsolicited file attachments are a very common method of spreading malware and viruses.  Always be suspicious of unsoliciated emails with attachments and make sure you have positively identified the sender and are expecting the file.