Following reports of hacking into QQ accounts (QQ is a messenger tool similar to Skype) across the UK and elsewhere in the world, students are strongly advised to warn their parents/guardians/family not to respond to any requests for money via QQ (or other source) that they receive, as it is not likely to be from the student but from cyber-criminals from overseas who have no connection to the University. It appears that these cyber-criminals are capable of hacking into QQ accounts without the owner having accepted them as a ‘friend’/contact. Please see below or click this link for a Chinese translation of this post.
Please be aware that these hackers have ‘tracked’ students on QQ and thus have a good knowledge of student language/behaviour. In fact, parents often think they really are communicating with their child. The hackers may also send messages to contacts lists of the hacked account, asking them to click on a malicious link, which then allows the hackers to access all their details – and so the hacking cycle continues.
Students are advised to please be careful and inform their parents of these hacking incidents. Regularly changing passwords is another way to reduce the likelihood of your account being hacked.
If you have had your account hacked, please contact Sarah Winspear in 65/2167 at Avenue Campus, telephone Sarah on 02380 592207 or email [email protected] as soon as possible.