ITS Security

Security Vulnerability in Internet Explorer

April 29, 2014

Our University uses Google Apps for Education for Email and Collaboration. As such, we have always encouraged users to use the Google Chrome browser.

For those of you have have resisted changing from Internet Explorer, this may be the time to do so.

Please read and follow the guidelines in this announcement.

The Heartbleed Bug

April 11, 2014

An encryption software bug called “Heartbleed” may become one of the biggest security threats the Internet has ever experienced. The bug has already affected many popular websites and services — ones you might use every day, like Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, etc…..

Many Internet companies that were vulnerable to the bug have already updated their servers with a security patch to fix the issue. However, as a precautionary measure customers of these companies are being advised to go in and change their passwords for these sites.

This has prompted a new concern with false emails being sent with links to fake “change your password” websites.

SPAM emails are now arriving throughout the world asking people to change their password with the goal being to trick the customer into providing a legitimate password, credit card information, or to install malicious software on the persons computer.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Unsolicited emails with links in them are in most cases NOT helpful.  Don’t click that link! Don’t forward the email to others! Delete the email.

Following an unexpected email link to a password change page is the most common way to have your credentials stolen or pick up malware that will infect your computer.

We recommend you browse to the sites you use regularly by typing the name in the address bar and then change your password.

Microsoft’s End of Life Support of Windows XP

March 6, 2014

As stated on their website, starting next month, Microsoft will no longer be supporting Windows XP Operating System.

ITS has already begun to upgrade computers to Window 7 and will continue to do so until all computers capable of running Windows 7 are upgraded. Along with this upgrade will be an upgrade to Office 2010.

Please take this opportunity to contact the Help Desk to arrange training on the new features in Office 2010. If you have questions about how certain features will work in Office 2010, this is the time to get your questions answered.

Some of you have computers that are too old to run Windows 7; You will be contacted over the next few months to discuss the options that will be available to you.