2007

Home IT Security Awareness IT Security Awareness News Archives - 2007

• National Cyber Security Awareness Month, October 2007
• Annual Computer Security Reminders: October 2007
• Security Alert Sent to Campus about Bogus Email Greeting Cards (e-cards), July 2007
• National Internet Safety Month, June 2007
  

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month!!

The goal of National Cyber Security Awareness Month is to raise awareness about the many technology-related threats we face each day, and to learn how we can better protect our computers, our information and ourselves.

Many cyber security threats are largely avoidable. Information Technology Services' (ITS') “Top 10 List of Good Computing Practices” offers practical tips and pointers for safer computing. Please also see the following UCSC publications:

• Electronic version of National Cyber Security Awareness Month brochure sent to campus faculty and staff in early October (pdf)
• Cyber Security Awareness handout for students (pdf)
• National Cyber Security Awareness Month article in UCSC's Online Currents
• Barn Sign at the base of campus
• 2-part series from 2006 examining common cyber security threats that we see at UCSC and providing practical information and tips for how to avoid them. Part 1 Part 2

UCSC’s ITS Security Awareness website offers a wide range of cyber security information and resources, including

• The Top 10 List of Good Computing Practices mentioned above
• Information about protecting sensitive data,
• Online computer security training and tutorials
• How to report computer security incidents
• Excellent UCSC and non-UCSC resources
• And more...

If you are ever in doubt about a cyber security issue, contact the ITS Support Center.

Annual Computer Security Reminder
October 1, 2007

Reminder about the need to evaluate and protect sensitive data stored on computers and other electronic devices, especially data that can be used for identity theft. Sent to the UCSC campus community from David S. Kliger, Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor and Larry Merkley, Vice Provost, Information Technology. link

Archives: 2006 Annual Computer Security Reminder

Security Alert Sent to Campus about Bogus Email Greeting Cards (e-cards)
July 18, 2007

To: UCSC Faculty, Staff, and Students
From: Information Technology Services (ITS)

Re: Email Greeting Card (e-card) Virus Alert

We write to inform you about a new virus that is infecting computers. As you may already be aware, a new type of malicious email has hit the campus: bogus electronic greeting cards, or e-cards. Clicking on the link included in these emails can infect your computer with a virus. This has already happened to a number of individuals on campus.

This announcement contains two important messages.

1) Do not open these electronic greeting cards or click on the links. Simply delete any message that links you to e-cards.

2) If you accidentally click on a link in one of these messages and think your computer might have been infected, please contact the ITS Support Center immediately. The ITS Support Center staff is ready to help you find out if your computer is infected and take any necessary steps to fix the problem.

This latest attack is an excellent reminder not to click on links or open attachments in unsolicited email. For the time being, with respect to email greeting cards, it is best to assume that any that you receive are bogus and potentially harmful. Don't open them or click on links in them. If you think that an e-card may be legitimate, be sure to check it out carefully: verify that it is addressed to you personally, it is from someone you know, the spelling and grammar in the email are correct, and the "from" address and link look legitimate. When in doubt (and this is true for all unsolicited email), contact the sender to verify before clicking on the link.

ITS is currently working on enhancements to our existing anti-virus software to block these new virus forms.

If you have a question or need technical help, please submit an IT Request ticket at https://itrequest.ucsc.edu or contact the ITS Support Center by email help@ucsc.edu, telephone 459-HELP(4357), or in-person Kerr Hall Room 54.

Thank you,

Information Technology Services (ITS)
http://its.ucsc.edu

June was National Internet Safety Month
June 2007

The U.S. Senate passed a resolution designating June 2007 as National Internet Safety Month. This Resolution "provides the citizens of the United States with an opportunity to learn more about the dangers of the Internet, and the importance of being safe and responsible online."

In the spirit of National Internet Safety Month, UCSC Information Technology Services (ITS) would like to provide you with some internet safety resources:

• OnGuardOnline.gov: This web site provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.
  
• StaySafeOnline.org: Simple steps, practices and resources a consumer can use to learn the basics on how to better secure their home computer from cyber threats.
  
• The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)'s "Don't Believe the Type" website, which focuses on understanding dangers on the Internet and simple rules to avoid them.
  (Note: Although this website is aimed at teenagers, the information and advice generally applies to people of all ages)
  
• The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC's) "Deter-Detect-Defend" website on identity theft
  
• ITS at UCSC also has a wide range of largely non-technical computer security awareness information available on the ITS Security Awareness website.

For questions regarding Internet safety or other IT related issues, contact the ITS Support Center at (831) 459-HELP (4357), http://its.ucsc.edu/services/help_desk/, or help@ucsc.edu.