Published on Oct. 2, 2026

Don’t let one click become a bigger problem

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a reminder that protecting university information starts with small actions we all take every day.

Most phishing emails don’t start with obvious warning signs. They may appear to come from a coworker, supervisor, vendor or a service you use every day. A message might ask you to review a document, verify an account, update payment information or respond to an urgent request. The goal is often the same: trick someone into giving away login credentials.

If an attacker gains access to an account, the impact can extend far beyond a single inbox. A compromised account can be used to send phishing messages to coworkers, access sensitive information, redirect payments, steal personal data or gain access to additional systems across the university.

That’s why this year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month priority is adopting phishing-resistant multifactor authentication (MFA).

As Microsoft discontinues older authentication methods such as text messages and phone calls, now is a good time to adopt a more secure sign-in method. Moving to phishing-resistant MFA can help protect your account while preparing you for future authentication changes.

What is phishing-resistant MFA and why does it matter?

Traditional authentication methods, such as text-message codes and approval prompts, are vulnerable to sophisticated phishing attacks.

Phishing-resistant MFA is designed to stop attackers from using stolen credentials to access your account. Even if you are tricked into entering a password on a fraudulent website, phishing-resistant authentication provides an additional layer of protection.

By setting up phishing-resistant MFA, you’re helping protect your personal information and important university systems and services.

Stronger security and simpler sign-in

Better security doesn’t have to mean more work. After a brief setup process:

• No security codes to type
• No waiting for text messages
• No unexpected authentication prompts
• Most sign-ins become a quick fingerprint scan, face scan, PIN entry or security-key tap
• For many users, signing in becomes faster and easier than before.

Secure your account this Cybersecurity Awareness Month

The University of Missouri System offers several phishing-resistant MFA options, including:

• Microsoft Authenticator Passkeys
• Windows Hello for Business (for individually assigned university computers)
• Physical security keys

Resources are available to help you get started, including:

• Decision guide to determine which method works best for you
• Step-by-step setup guides
• Instructional videos
• Frequently asked questions
• Campus help desk assistance

This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, take a few minutes to strengthen your account security by setting up a phishing-resistant authentication method.