October 2011 IT Security and Help Desk Newsletter

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month

It starts with STOP. THINK. CONNECT., a simple action for all of us to employ to stay safer and more secure online.

  • STOP: Before you use the Internet, take time to understand the risks and learn how to spot potential problems.
  • THINK: Take a moment to be certain the path ahead is clear. Watch for warning signs and consider how your actions online could impact your safety, or your family's.
  • CONNECT: Enjoy the Internet with greater confidence, knowing you've taken the right steps to safeguard yourself and your computer.

More information on National Cyber Security Awareness Month is located here: http://www.uccs.edu/itsecure/index/NCSAM2011.html

Cyber Security Topic – Importance of Updating Your Software/Mac/PC

You maintain your car right?  You buy new tires so you don't skid off the road, you change your oil so engine keeps working properly, you put new brakes on so you can stop when you need to.  Same maintenance rules apply to computers and computing devices.  Mac's, PC's, mobile phones, Firefox, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Java, Safari, etc, are all items you need to keep updated.  You update your computer for a few reasons:

  • It fixes problems with your applications.  Problems with your applications or operating system are called "bugs" and they are often patched to make the application work as it should.
  • It keeps you safe from people who purposely or accidentally exploit software.  All computing devices have problems with this.  In order to keep yourself safe, you always want to make sure you have the latest version of the software.  The four items that I always make sure I update are: OSX, Windows, Adobe (all products), and Java.  Adobe and Java are cross platform, meaning they can be run on both a Mac and a PC.  You can get an Adobe or Java virus and have it affect either your Mac or PC. Therefore it's always also important to install an antivirus/antimalware on Mac's and PC's.

Important tips:

  • Keep security software current: Having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system are the best defenses against viruses, malware, and other online threats.
  • Automate software updates: Many software programs will automatically

Keeping Campus Safe - The Numbers

Incoming spam and malicious emails kept out of your inbox in the past 30 days: 4,953,474 which accounts for about 79% of all incoming email

Viruses and malware removed or quarantined automatically in the past month: 170 incidents

Software Update Notes

Microsoft October Updates - Please make sure you save your work before you head home tonight (10/11).  The updates may cause your computer to reboot.  

Mac October Updates - Be sure to update your Mac, click on the Apple icon in the top left corner and click on Software Update... be sure to install all updates.  

Latest Firefox version: 7.0.1 and 3.6.23

Latest Google Chrome Version: 14.0.835.202

Adobe Flash 11 is out:  http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer.html (10/3)

Managing your UCCS Username and Password 

Passwords Expire Every 90 Days - Don't forget to change your password every 90 days.  You can do this 24/7 by visiting https://accounts.uccs.edu and clicking on Password Change

Lost or Forgotten Passwords - All UCCS Students, Faculty and Staff can recover a lost or forgotten password without having to come on campus.  All you need to do is visit https://accounts.uccs.edu and click on Self Service Password Reset