Knicks staff forced into security class after clicking fake ring email

New York Knicks employees who clicked a suspicious link in late September must now complete a mandatory cybersecurity course.

The message arrived with the subject line "Congratulations, your Employee Championship Ring is here." It instructed recipients to select one of two ring designs via a provided link. According to a report by The New York Times, Madison Square Garden staff who opened the email were identified as targets for the training.

The initiative stems from growing concerns about digital security within the organization. James Dolan, the owner of the Knicks, the Rangers, and Madison Square Garden, reportedly ordered the class to address these vulnerabilities. Simulated phishing attacks are a standard practice for large corporations to identify staff who might overlook warning signs in deceptive emails. These tests often mimic internal communications but contain subtle errors, such as misspelled domains. For instance, Condé Nast, the parent company of Ars Technica, has used the address "condenest.com" in past tests.

It remains unclear if the Knicks email included similar obvious red flags. The offer itself, however, was plausible. Joe Vardon, a senior NBA writer for The Athletic, noted that most NBA team employees typically receive championship rings, though their versions are usually less elaborate than those given to players. The offer carried extra weight because the Knicks recently won their first NBA title in over 50 years. Staff might have been inclined to trust a free ring offer tied to such a major milestone.

The recent focus on rings extends beyond the security test. On Tuesday, the team raised its first championship banner since 1973. During the ceremony, assistant coaches received boxes that were empty. They are scheduled to receive their rings at a later date.

The cybersecurity training is now required for the specific group of employees who fell for the late-September email. The measure aims to reinforce security protocols within the Madison Square Garden organization.