More Windows security updates released
Microsoft issued five new security updates today for Windows
NT 4.0, Windows XP SP2, and Windows 2003.
Use Microsoft's Windows Update service.
—K-State Security Incident Response Team
IT plans at K-State over semester break
With many K-Staters off-campus for the semester break, it's an optimum time
to do upgrades and maintenance on K-State's central IT resources, and also to do special projects.
Following is a brief list of some of the many projects that will occur:
Educational Communications Center
- Provide worldwide communications uplink for the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer non-stop
circumnavigation world record attempt (around the world in 80 hours)
in a single-engine, single-pilot jet aircraft
- Produce and stage Jan. 18 Kan-ed network
"ribbon-cutting" ceremony at the State Capitol Building (second floor rotunda),
with speeches, a "button-punching" from the governor, and cutaways to video locations in the state
- Video coverage of men's and women's basketball games in Bramlage Coliseum
Computing and Network Services
- Upgrade many aspects of the campus network
- Continuation of e-mail project
- WebMail performance updates
- Minor changes to eProfile page
- Upgrade Unix workstations in Dickens computing lab
- InfoCommons/university computing labs: update PCs and perform annual printer maintenance
- Enhance redundancy on Storage Area Network
- Maintenance on KSU Libraries' servers
Information Technology Assistance Center
- Develop documentation and training on Adobe Acrobat
- Test a remote-desktop support system for helping InfoCommons users
- Develop TechBytes sessions for spring 2005
Telecommunications
- Install wireless networking in Cardwell and Eisenhower halls
—the editors, InfoTech Tuesday
Central IT systems offline periodically during break
Upgrades on the campus network, central computing servers, InfoCommons, and university computing labs
have been scheduled by Computing and Network Services from Monday, Dec. 20 to Monday, Jan. 11, 2005.
During this time, some systems will be unavailable for brief periods although
access will be maintained as much as possible. The following systems and services will be unavailable periodically:
- E-mail (including WebMail)
- K-State's connection to the Internet
- Campus data network, including connections between buildings, residence halls, and Salina campus
- K-State InfoCommons and university computing labs
- KSU Libraries services, including the card catalog system and CATnet
- K-State's central Unix systems
See the related article in this issue for more about the planned updates.
Questions about access to IT services should be sent to the IT Help Desk, (785) 532-7722,
helpdesk@ksu.edu. The help desk will remain open Dec. 27-30, although
the rest of the university is closed.
—B. Edwards, Computing and Network Services
Free cellphones through Dec. 23
with new activation
K-State Telecommunications has two new cellphones that are free through Dec. 23
with a new activation of a K-State cellphone plan:
- Nokia 6015 (retail $127)
- Audiovox 8900 camera phone (retail $251)
These promotions are available through noon Thursday, Dec. 23.
The office is closed Friday, Dec. 24, and reopens 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 3, 2005.
To see these and other models available, visit the Telecommunications office at
109 East Stadium or call 532-7001.
Telecommunications began offering cellphone service Aug. 1 (see its
wireless phone services page).
Unlike companies that require two-year contracts, K-State
has a five-month-minimum cellphone plan so individuals can tailor their
needs on a semester basis. No contract is required for K-State departments.
—A. Brenner, K-State Telecommunications
Phishing prevention memo e-mailed to K-Staters
Last week, all K-Staters were notified via e-mail about the increasing
number of phishing attacks on campus. Highlights from that e-mail are below:
Warning signs of fraudulent e-mail include:
- An urgent request for personal information (name, address, birth date, social security number, etc.)
- Requests for important financial information (usernames, passwords, PIN numbers, credit card numbers)
- Emotional statements that may upset/excite you ("Your account will be suspended!", or "We've charged your credit card!")
Best security practices for handling online information:
- Don't use links in an e-mail to get to a webpage unless you're 100 percent
sure of the validity of the message. If unsure, contact the company by
phone or type the company's address directly into your web browser.
- Avoid filling out forms in e-mail messages that ask for personal financial
information.
- Ensure you're on a secure website when submitting credit card or
other sensitive information. A secure website has a "lock" icon in the web browser.
- Regularly log in and check your online accounts.
- Visit the Phishing Archive
to check whether a suspicious e-mail is a phishing scam.
- Regularly check your bank, credit, and debit card statements to ensure all transactions are legitimate.
- Use the most up-to-date browser versions and make sure all security patches are applied.
- Report phishing or "spoofed" e-mails at the
antiphishing.org site.
If you are unsure about an e-mail, contact the K-State IT Help Desk, (785)532-7722,
helpdesk@ksu.edu.
—K-State Security Incident Response Team
Autodesk free online training sessions
Autodesk is offering a series of online training
sessions for Autodesk Revit 7: Dec. 16, Jan. 6, Jan. 21, and Feb. 3. This is an opportunity to get an
in-depth look at some of the new and powerful features. "It covers all you need to know to put the power of building
information modeling to work."
Registration is not required. Just click on the webcast link included below
and dial the phone number on the day and time shown:
Autodesk webcast link (60 minutes)
Time: 1 p.m. CST, Dec. 16 (Thu)
Phone number: 888-889-6745
(Outside US/Canada: 1-517-623-4382)
Passcode: 7258558
Leader: Karen Kelleher
—the editors, InfoTech Tuesday
TechBytes suggestions needed for spring 2005
We are gearing up for next semester's TechBytes sessions and would like to know what IT tools or resources
you'd like to learn more about. Please take a few minutes to share your ideas by filling out the
TechBytes survey.
—G. Snyder, Research and Extension, and
C. Rodriguez, Information Technology Assistance Center
| On the spot: IT questions from K-Staters |
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What happens to my e-mail Inbox if I exceed the 20-megabyte limit?
You will receive an e-mail reminder each day for seven days, telling you that your mail will be moved to an
IMAP folder if you don't get it under the 20 MB limit.
After the seventh message, your Inbox contents are moved to an IMAP subfolder under your Inbox, and
you are notified of the folder's name (based on your eID and the date).
If you have trouble accessing the mail that was moved, contact the
IT Help Desk, 532-7722, helpdesk@ksu.edu.
To check the size of your Inbox, go to the eID website and
sign in to your eProfile. Click on "View your e-mail folder sizes".
—J. Morrill, Computing and Network Services
Got a comment? TellTuesday@ksu.edu.
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| Web watch |
K-State Options Plus
The K-State Options Plus program (optionsplus.ksu.edu)
helps people earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees without disrupting their lives.
The program lets adult students work full-time in their own communities while
reaching their educational goals using a combination of distance education courses, evening courses, and
other delivery methods. While you're at the site, check out the 2005 Willie the Wildcat calendar.
—the editors, InfoTech Tuesday
Find a good site? TellTuesday@ksu.edu.
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