Windows Vista issues discussed at SIRT Roundtable

More than 30 people met to discuss Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista, at the monthly SIRT security roundtable Jan. 12 in the Union. Topics included the different versions of Vista and their availability, security features in Vista, Trend Micro antivirus software for Vista, SIRT recommendations, and other issues people have encountered with Vista. The PowerPoint presentation from the roundtable is now available online.

Vista has many enhanced security features over previous versions of Windows and will be available to the commercial market after Jan. 30, but SIRT still does not recommend upgrading to Vista, primarily because Trend Micro does not yet have a version of its OfficeScan security software for it. Roundtable participants were urged to thoroughly research and test Vista and carefully plan the transition to this new operating system, especially in relation to configuring the security features. They were reminded that K-State IT policy prohibits running a computer without antivirus software, hence the need to wait until Trend Micro releases version 8.0 of OfficeScan that will support Vista, which is expected in the second quarter of 2007 (i.e., April-June).

To sum it up in one sentence, don't be in any hurry to deploy Windows Vista. But do read this issue's related article, Microsoft on campus Feb. 6 to discuss Windows Vista.

Microsoft has published an excellent Windows Vista Security Guide that all K-State system administrators should read as they plan Vista deployment and use as a reference after deployment. Other links of interest:

• Windows Vista
• Versions of Windows Vista
• Windows Vista Resources for IT Professionals
• Windows Vista Volume Activation Technical Guidance
• Side-by-side comparison of features in versions of Vista

Microsoft on campus Feb. 6 to discuss Windows Vista

Microsoft representatives will give two presentations at K-State on Windows Vista on Tuesday, Feb. 6, in Union 212:

• The morning session (10-11:30 a.m.) will provide a general overview of Windows Vista and Internet Explorer 7 features, versions, security, and licensing.
• The afternoon session (1:30-3:30 p.m.) will go into more detail and be geared towards technical support staff, covering topics like specific security technologies, deployment/installation issues, volume license activation, and general Q/A.

Both sessions are open to all K-Staters. Watch InfoTech Tuesday for more details.

Dreamweaver and CSS Exchange Workshop Jan. 18

This hands-on workshop -- scheduled 1:30-3:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 -- is designed to be an informal forum for K-Staters to share tips, expertise, and techniques with their peers and to learn from other Dreamweaver users at K-State. The moderators will share a few tips and encourage attendees to ask questions, share their ideas and techniques, or lead a discussion. Initial topics include:

• Photo Albums
• Creating and Styling Forms

This workshop will be one to two hours, depending upon the discussion and topics being shared. See the registration form to register, submit ideas for discussion, or volunteer to lead a topic discussion.

K-State Online training tutorials available

Do you need to brush up on your K-State Online skills, but don't have time to make it to a class? Sign up for online tutorials instead. The following tutorials are available to K-State faculty, staff, and graduate teaching assistants:

• Getting Started with K-State Online (create course, import roster)
• Creating an Advising Space
• Creating an Online Assignment
• Creating a Timed Assignment
• Creating a Manual Assignment (grades that are manually recorded for classroom assignments)

K-State Online reference guides are also available online. To register for one or more topics, use the online tutorials enrollment form.

Mediator 8 online tutorials available

Are you wondering how to get started learning Mediator 8? This new multimedia authoring tool is available for Windows computers through a K-State campus site license. Check out MatchWare's online Mediator tutorials, which are available free to the public.

Computer information specialist job opening in iTAC

The Information Technology Assistance Center is seeking to fill a Computer Information Specialist position in its Instructional Technology and Client Services unit. This full-time, unclassified position is an evening position and will be involved with the ongoing support and maintenance of the technology classrooms, K-State InfoCommons, and university computing labs on campus. For more information, read the job posting. First-round review of resumes will begin Feb. 5.

Security tip: New security guidelines for mobile devices

SIRT has published new guidelines for securing laptop computers and other mobile devices, with special attention given to protecting sensitive information like Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, student records, and personnel records. With up to 750,000 laptop computers stolen in the United States each year (the FBI estimates only 3 percent are recovered), it is critically important to take appropriate precautions to protect these devices and the information stored on them.

K-State is not immune. In the last year, four laptops were stolen out of a lab, a faculty member had a laptop stolen while on sabbatical in Europe, and several laptops have been stolen from students on campus.

If you still need motivation to take the threat seriously, visit the chronology of data breaches maintained by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Note how many of the more than 100 million records containing sensitive personal information involved in security breaches in the last two years were due to lost or stolen laptop computers.

A key recommendation in K-State's guidelines is to avoid storing sensitive information on mobile devices in the first place. The fact that they are portable puts them at a higher risk for loss or theft, so keeping sensitive data off is prudent. If you absolutely must have sensitive information on a portable device, then it should be encrypted both when it is stored on the device and when it is being transmitted.

These recommendations provide interim guidance while K-State's Information Resource Management Council (IRMC) develops a more comprehensive data classification and security policy and standards.

IT by the numbers: TEVAL use in fall 2006

213 = number of K-State faculty using the online TEVAL system in fall 2006.

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Managing editor
     Betsy Edwards
Associate editor
     Aimee Hagedorn
Executive editor
     Rebecca Gould

Popular IT

IT events
and deadlines

Fall 2006
Doctoral students will be required to submit dissertations electronically.

Jan. 1-Feb. 14
Password-change timeframe for spring semester.

Fall 2007
Masters students will be required to submit theses and reports electronically.

Is there a file size limit of what can be uploaded onto K-State Online, or a limit for the total course?

There isn't an enforced limit. K-State Online has a Course Size indicator in File Management that is meant to give you an idea on how much space your course is using. "100 percent" is equal to 100 MB. The 100 MB is a target size, but you are allowed to go over that amount if needed.

Why am I getting e-mail not addressed to me?

Why am I receiving e-mails that are clearly not addressed to me? Some of the subject lines are "Tension killing people", "Ora present", "Lana present", etc.

These e-mails reach you for one or more reasons:

• You may have a common e-mail ID. For example, a typical first name, label, or pop-culture icon, such as Betty, football, or pirate.
• Spammers target common names/labels at many different domains. All they need is one response.
• Spammers have learned to use the Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) feature in e-mail to send mass mailings that get by most spam filters.

See a similar Q/A in the July 18, 2006, Feedback, Receiving e-mail addressed to other K-Staters, for more reasons.

But the real question is, what can you do about it?

1. The best way to handle spam is to use the Delete key on unsolicited e-mail.
2. NEVER respond to a spam message.
3. If you change your e-mail ID, consider a new one that contains both letters and numbers. License-plate IDs work well and get less spam, according to a K-State e-mail administrator.

Martin Luther King Jr. remembered, honored at K-State

This week K-State honors Martin Luther King Jr. with a week of events culminating in the unveiling of a bust of the slain civil rights leader. To learn about and participate in this week of observance at K-State, see the Office of Diversity's Marching Toward a Just Society. Also see Media Relations Jan. 4 news release.

In 1964, Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. On the Nobelprize.org site, you can find:

• His Dec. 11 Nobel Lecture (and listen to a two-minute recording)
• His acceptance speech

In 1968, King presented a lecture at K-State shortly before his death. According to a Media Relations Jan. 4 news release, "[t]he last university speech King gave before his assassination in April 1968 was at the field house. On Jan. 19, 1968, King presented "The Future of Integration" as part of the University Convocation Lecture Series.

That same year, Coretta Scott King established the King Center as a "living memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King." On the King Center website is a tutorial with the Six Steps for Nonviolence and Social Change. Consider navigating through these slides to learn more about doing our part for peace.