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News Briefs: 2008
infotech.NEWS
News Briefs: 2008
- New Infection Alert: Fake Codecs
- 01.10.08: This holiday season, fake codecs for video players were among the biggest computer threats. Folks downloading codecs needed for video players found themselves victim to viruses, malware, and the like. (A codec is software that is used to compress or decompress a digital media file, such as a song or video). Please keep your computer safe! Visit the ITSS Virus and Security Information web site for the latest news, links, and assistance for keeping your computer clear.
- UMCal archiving begins
- 01.15.08: Beginning Feb. 1, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) will archive UMCal user data older than 18 months. The archived data will be stored in a standards-based file format for a minimum of seven years. Customers can request their calendar archives from the UMCal Support Group.
- The archiving is being done to increase system performance and to provide a clear retention policy. Additional information is available at: UMCal Archiving.
- "UMN Account" email is a scam
- 01.30.08: An email making the rounds - with the subject line, "VERIFY YOUR UMN (or EMAIL) ACCOUNT NOW" - is a hoax. The emails asks for your UMN email account and password (X500). Do not reply. If you have already replied, change your X.500 password right away.
- Note that the University will never ask you for a password through email. If you have questions or concerns about this, please contact the ITSS Help Desk (726-8847).
- "Required UMD email password change" email is NOT a scam
- 02.18.08: As part of an ongoing University-wide effort to increase online security, passwords for University Internet (email) accounts will now be set to expire after one year. Internet passwords are used for most common online applications such as e-mail, wireless access, course registration, UMCal, and pay statements.
- Beginning February 18, email notices will be sent in stages to UMD students, faculty or staff who have an Internet password older than one year. The email will include the expiration date for the password, as well as instructions on how to change it. Customers will have two weeks from the date of the email to change their password. For uninterrupted access, you must set a new password before the current one expires. For details, including a copy of the email that will be sent, see: University Internet passwords set to expire yearly.
- Yet another email account scam
- 03.28.08: An email making the rounds - with the subject line, "Account Reactivation" - is a hoax. The emails asks for your University email account, password, date of birth and your country. Do not reply. If you have already replied, change your University email/Internet password right away here: University Internet Account Options
- Note that the University will never ask you for a password or other private information through email. If you have questions or concerns about this, please contact the ITSS Help Desk (726-8847).
- "Change your password" email: Real or scam?
- 04.04.08: Recently, the
University of Minnesota started an initiative to increase security by
expiring all Internet passwords after one year. Internet passwords are
used for most common online applications such as e-mail, wireless access,
course registration, UMCal, and pay statements. The University has been
sending email notices to students, faculty and staff who have a password
about to expire with instructions on how to reset it.
- Unfortunately, a number of faked emails have also been circulating to universities across the country that also request the user to update their "University" account by clicking on a link or replying to the email. If a person replies, the account information is then used to send large amounts of spam. Several UMD accounts have already been compromised in this manner.
- So, how can you tell the real email from the fake email?
- The University will never ask you to reply to
an email with your password. You will always be asked to go to the
University's web site to change your password. Here's one way to get there
from the ITSS Home page (www.d.umn.edu/itss/)
- Under Services, click on the "Email" link.
- Under Quick Links, click on the "Change your Internet password" link.
- Check the "From" and "Reply to" addresses for obvious imposters, although these can be faked to look legitimate as well. Some of the recent emails came from "yahoo" accounts, for example.
- Don't click on links in an email without verifying that it's a legitimate University web site.
- If you receive a phishing email that targets University email users, report it to abuse@umn.edu.
- If you have questions or concerns about an email you receive, please contact the ITSS Help Desk (726-8847).
- For reference, below are a few of the recent scams:
- 04.04.08 Subject line: "Update Your Email Address"
This fake email includes a spoofed address (UMN Email Admin<mailadmin@umn.edu>) and a link to a malicious web site. - 03.29.08 Subject line: "Account Reactivation"
This fake emails asks for your University email account, password, date of birth and your country. - 01.30.08 Subject line: "VERIFY YOUR UMN (or EMAIL) ACCOUNT
NOW"
This fake email asks for your UMN email account and password.
- For more details, see: University Internet passwords set to expire yearly
- Unfortunately, a number of faked emails have also been circulating to universities across the country that also request the user to update their "University" account by clicking on a link or replying to the email. If a person replies, the account information is then used to send large amounts of spam. Several UMD accounts have already been compromised in this manner.
- Blizzard fall-out
- 04.15.08: Due to the blizzard on Friday, April 11, some ITSS equipment was damaged and had to be replaced. This equipment manages password updates and authentication processes. It has taken several days to resolve these problems, and we hope they are corrected now. If you experience continuing problems, please report them to the ITSS Help Desk at 218-726-8847 or helpdesk@d.umn.edu. If you are interested in more details, see: Storm-related technology problems.
- Quickstart required for wireless access
- 06.09.08: As part of our ongoing effort to ensure that all desktop computers on campus meet OIT security guidelines, ITSS has been adding Quickstart requirements to our network registration processes. We started with student computers in the residence halls (ResNet) in 2006, expanded it in 2007 to include faculty and staff computers in offices (NetReg), and are now rolling it out to computers on our wireless network.
- Beginning Summer 2008, Windows computers accessing the UMD wireless network will be required to run the University's QuickStart security wizard before being granted access. We will be rolling this requirement out in stages across the campus, building by building. For details and the building schedule, see: Quickstart roll-out on our wireless network
- ITSS moving to new data center on campus
- 07.14.08: During the month of July, ITSS staff will be moving servers and network equipment from our old data center in MWAH to our new data center in KPlz. While we will be completing most of the work during weekends and off hours, this will result in significant service outages to the campus. For a detailed list of planned work and outages, see: ITSS moving to new Data Center.
- ITSS TechCenter Opens
- 09.02.08: ITSS is pleased to announce the opening of our new ITSS TechCenter in Kirby Plaza 165. We have combined our services for computer maintenance, desktop support, help desk, AV checkout, and classroom and computer lab support into one area. Our goal is to provide the campus community with one place to stop and one number to call for answers, advice and assistance with all of your UMD technology needs. For details and hours, see: ITSS TechCenter.