Don't open email about Michael Jackson or the Boston Bombing…

When a major news event happens, cyber criminals send email with a subject line related to the event and include an attachment that is malware to infect your computer and make it part of a botnet for sending SPAM and conducting other illegal activities. You can see examples of these catchy subject lines at http://www.flickr.com/photos/panda_security/with/3256919391/                      Source: SANS Institute

Be cautious with free software downloads…

While there is a lot of legitimate and good-quality, free software out there (ex. Adobe Reader, Google SketchUp, Mozilla Firefox, etc) there is also a lot of free software you don’t want to touch with a ten foot pole. Free downloads are notorious for containing spyware and malware. Download free software only from sites you know and trust!  Resist the impulsive temptation for the freebie, or the decision could end costing you big.

Rash of car break-ins & campus thefts…

As reported recently by the Safety/Security Department, there have been several car break-ins (busted windows and goods taken) and thefts from offices around campus. Thieves are targeting easy to grab, high value items like cellphones, laptops, tablet computers, iPods, purses, and wallets. Although some of the thefts have happened earlier in the day, many have happened in the evening and at night.

Be on the alert, be diligent, and use common sense! Lock your car/office doors when leaving & do NOT leave items in plain sight in your car! If you will be on campus in the evening or at night, think about parking your car in a closer, less isolated lot.  

Where is Internet technology headed?

Just in case you were wondering. Cisco Systems predicts that Internet traffic will quadruple in the next five years, with mobile Internet connections surpassing the world's population by 2017! Networking equipment vendors are looking forward to the era of terabit Ethernet technology to handle ever-increasing levels of traffic and dynamic content. This will not be your father’s Internet! Source: Network World

click here to read full article online

Which Internet browser should I use?

First, if you are not sure what a browser is – here is a basic definition. It’s a specialized type of software application that allows a computer to interact with websites and utilize tools on the Internet. Examples are Internet Explorer (IE), Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari on a Mac. They all have their pros & cons, but function similarly. One is not necessarily better than the others. Deciding which browser to use is often a matter of personal choice, necessity, or technological restriction. If you don’t like the look or feel of say Firefox or find it hard to use, you can simply use IE or Chrome instead, or if you can’t open an email attachment say in Internet Explorer for some reason, you can often use Firefox or Chrome instead and the attachment opens with no problem. However, some situations require you to use a specific browser. For example, at Shoreline, the Canvas Learning System is optimized to work with Google Chrome, so that is the browser you need to use with that platform.

Backup important files on a regular basis…

We all know we're supposed to do this but many of us don't. Backup important files on a regular basis and store the backups in a safe place. (Preferably off site.) You can backup files to removable disks/drives or save copies to network shares. It's not wise to back up to the same hard drive or computer, in case something happens to that device. Unfortunately, it's not a matter of "if" you will lose files one way or another; it's a matter of "when".   Source: SANS Institute

2 quick Windows tips of the day….

1) To keep your current application window active but minimize all your other inactive windows at the same time – click the Windows key + the Home key. 2) Right clicking with the mouse on the desktop (in a blank space) will give you several options, such as “view” so you change some aspects about the look of your desktop and “new” to create a new folder or shortcut icon.

Computer keyboard shortcuts…

Using keyboard shortcuts can greatly increase your productivity, reduce repetitive strain, and help keep you focused. For example, highlighting text with the keyboard and pressing Ctrl + C is much faster than taking your hand from the keyboard, highlighting the text using the mouse, clicking copy from the file menu, and then putting your hand back in place on the keyboard. Here are a few, quick useful shortcuts.

Ctrl + C   Copy the highlighted text or selected item; Ctrl + V   Paste the text or object that's in the clipboard; Ctrl + P   Print the page being viewed - i.e. your document in Microsoft Word or the web page in your Internet browser. For more tips, please see www.computerhope.com or your favorite, computer-savvy co-worker. Source: computerhope.com

Adobe kills packaged software, bets on cloud alone…

Adobe Systems has announced that upgrades for its flagship software packages, including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, will now be available only through online subscriptions **disclaimer – this is general information & we are not certain how this may impact current licenses or subscriptions ** There will be special volume licensing for enterprises, government and educational institutions.                   Click here to read full article 

Source: CompTia Smart Briefs / The Sydney Morning Herald

Don't check "remember my password" boxes…

Numerous programs offer the option of "remembering" your password. Unfortunately, many of them have no built-in security measures to protect that information. Some programs actually store the password in clear text in a file on the computer. This means anyone with access to the computer can read the password. It's best to retype your password each time you log in eliminating the possibility that someone will be able to steal or use it.   Source: SANS Institute

Printing Upgrade Project….

Tech Support Services is working on migration to a new print server. This project will be ongoing for a few months & will improve aspects of our printing on campus. If anyone experiences any difficulties with printing, as always please contact TSS.

Important to update Java on home computer…

Java is a programming language and underlying technology that powers a range of computer programs. It runs on billions of computers worldwide, including mobile devices, and there are lots of apps and websites that won't work unless you have Java installed. In the past few months, there have been some big security vulnerabilities in previous versions of Java, and Oracle, the company who creates it, has released a few new versions. The latest is (Version 7 Update 21). To find out your version, go to www.java.com  and click on “Do I have Java?” Follow the prompts. If yours is an older version, you should update. It’s a free download.