Information ServicesReporting an incident

It’s better to be safe than sorry. Acting fast can minimise the impact if your device or account has been compromised.

Contact the Helpdesk immediately in any of the following circumstances:

  • you suspect that your University-owned device, or a personal device used to access University systems and data, has been infected with a virus, ransomware or any other type of malware
  • your University-owned device, or a personal device used to access University systems and data, has been lost or stolen
  • you suspect your University account has been compromised

Find out more

With any malware, if you have the slightest suspicion you should take action immediately.

University-owned devices:

  • disconnect your device from the University network. For wired connections, like a desktop PC, pull out the network cable; for wireless devices, disable your wireless connection
  • power down your computer
  • contact the Helpdesk

Personal devices:

  1. Disconnect your device from the internet. For wired connections, like a desktop PC, pull out the network cable. For wireless devices, disable your wireless connection.
  2. Power down your computer.
  3. Use another, uninfected computer to download anti-malware software and save it to a DVD or USB. Free versions of anti-malware software are available online.
  4. Turn on the infected machine, making sure it’s still not connected to the Internet, and run the anti-malware software from the DVD or USB.
  5. Keep running the anti-malware tool until your device is ‘clean’. 
  6. Reconnect your device to the internet and update the anti-malware.
  7. Scan the device again.
  8. Change your device login passwords and any other passwords you suspect may be compromised.

If your mobile device is lost or stolen, you should do the following as soon as possible:

  • if your device has been stolen, notify the police
  • for phones, notify your service provider
  • use remote wipe functionality, if available
  • contact the Helpdesk if you use the device to access University information
  • change passwords on any accounts that may have been compromised