Handle Spoof Email

There is an email being circulated that is asking for personal information regarding your CNS email address.  CNS will never ask for personal email information via email. Spoof emails are hoax emails you receive that appear to be from CNS, or some other well-known, legitimate company, asking you to reply with account information such as your password, or personal information, such as your credit card number, social security number, or bank account number.  The emails are known as spoof emails because they fake the appearance of a legitimate company in order to commit identity theft or infect your computer with a virus. Unfortunately, this practice is occurring more and more frequently.  An example of a spoof or hoax email is shown below. NEVER respond to an email like this that appears as if it came from CNS. If it were ever necessary to update your account we would contact you by phone, not via email. We will never request your password in an email. This same principle applies not only to your CNS email, but to all email you receive.  We recommend that you NOT respond to email requests for any personal information and that you NOT open attachments or click on links unless you can verify the sender.

What can I do to protect myself from spoof emails and viruses?

1. Your best defense is a good offense. Email viruses are proliferating throughout the Internet, and present a huge problem for both CNS as your ISP and you as the user. As noted, we deploy virus protection software, but you should deploy virus detection software as well. Because so many new viruses are created and released, make sure your virus software is updated regularly. (Most virus software can be set to automatically
update.)

2. Be cautious with emails that contain attachments or links. Do not open attachments or click on links unless you can validate the sender.

3. We recommend that you not respond to emails requesting personal or credit information.
Unless encrypted, email is not secure, and you put yourself at risk by sending this
type of information via email.

4. Know the signs of spoof email and screen your email carefully.

5. Disable the Message Preview Pane in Outlook and Outlook Express.


******************************* SPOOF EMAIL EXAMPLE **********************************
We are currently performing maintenance on our CNS mail Server. We intend upgrading
Our CNS mail Security Server for better online services.

In order to ensure you do not experience service interruption, Please you must reply
To this email immediately and enter your Username (_____________) here  and password
Here (___________) and Check out your new features and enhancements with your new
And improved webmail account.

To enable us upgrade your Account for better online services please reply to this
Mail very fast.

Thank you for using CNS MAGIC MAIL Service.

NB: We request your username and password for Identification purpose.