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Archive: April 6, 2005 |
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Security and
Internet Services
Security home |
PHISHING AND SPAM NEWS: FIGHTING
BACK!
Microsoft files lawsuits against 117 alleged phishers; see http://www.computerworld.com/printthis/2005/0,4814,100777,00.html
. And Florida files multimillion-dollar spam suits; see http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5653662.html
.
NEW: STANDARD FOR USE OF SSN
To further protect private data the University is setting a standard
about using Social Security Numbers that will apply to all University
systems, including self-service applications and departmentally
administered systems. Suggestions and comments accepted through
May 10 by Mark Powell, m-powe@umn.edu
. See the draft at http://www.umn.edu/datasec/security/StandardSSNUsage.htm
.
SPAM AND VIRUS STATS
In March, 2005 Central e-mail spam controls blocked 8,135,751 messages.
Anti-virus controls blocked an additional 39,227 messages.
A QUICK CHECKUP
Reminder for Microsoft Windows users: use QuickStart Basic to periodically
check to make sure your AntiVirus (AV) software is set for Daily
updates and your computer is receiving AV updates. See http://www.quickstart.umn.edu
.
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Network and Telecommunication
Services
NTS home |
MARCH 31, 2005 NETWORK PROBLEM
New edge equipment, which was installed in preparation for moving
new connections onto the new network, failed. This breakdown exhibited
itself by flooding an inordinate amount of network traffic to its
attached core router site, swamping the router and its connected
buildings and equipment. The failure caused many central University
services to go offline. Although we isolated the faulty equipment
and removed it from the network, we are also delaying further building
cutovers until we know even more.
ANALYZING THE NETWORK PROBLEM
NTS, and the vendor, are analyzing the faulty equipment that caused
network problems on March 31st. We're using an NTS lab environment
to reproduce the problem; and until NTS and the hardware vendor
can determine more exactly what happened to impact the University's
network, we're delaying further building cutovers. Building transitions
will resume after determining our exposure to this problem in the
future and after either limiting or eliminating the vulnerability
to this type of failure in the network. See future announcements
on Network
Upgrade page.
UPDATE: NETWORK UPGRADE
The Gopher GigaNet is nearing completion of the cutover in the East
Bank area. At the end of March, 123 buildings, 35,134 Ethernet connections/ports,
1883 switches and 653 communications closets were moved to the new
network. The campus completion is expected in June, with a few remaining
off campus buildings to be done later in the summer 2005. See http://www.umn.edu/nts/networkupgrade
.
ENHANCED 911 (E911) OVERVIEW
E911 is a state of the art technology integrating the University
of Minnesota 911 system with the state and metro E911 system. In
the past, only University supported telephone numbers with building
and room location information that NTS provided would get direct
911 response from the University Police. NTS is completing an upgrade
of the E911 system for the University Police. Also see: http://www.fcc.gov/911/enhanced/
.
E911 UPGRADE
Without losing speed, the upgraded system will route all calls in
the University Police territory, including cell and pay phones,
to the University Police E911 Center. Because the new system fully
integrates the University Police with the metro E911 system, it
can effectively share and transfer E911 information with other emergency
agencies. NTS will continue to update its database.
VOICE MAIL SYSTEM UPGRADE
A Voice Mail System upgrade, based on IP technology, is scheduled
for the summer of 2005 on the Twin City Campus. The new system will
offer new technologies such as text messaging, video conferencing,
and user administration via a web interface. More information about
the new system and about transferring personal greetings, old messages,
and more will be online at http://www.umn.edu/nts
.
UPDATE: MODEM POOL
The University Modem Pool has been re-groomed to provide more efficient
use of the telephone lines (T1s) serving the system from the outside
and is still heavily used. In a 24-hour period, students and staff
taking advantage of the free 50 hours per month made approximately
24,760 connections to the 612-627-4250 modem pool, averaging 24
minutes per call. Info at http://www.umn.edu/nts/services/modembilling.shtml
.
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Academic and
Distributed
Computing
Services
ADCS home |
DON'T BE A VICTIM OF IDENTITY
THEFT
If you are not using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol for your
e-mail setup (as well as FTP and Telnet), then your password could
be picked up through the Internet. For information on setting your
e-mail client to be secure, see http://www.umn.edu/securecom
.
1-HELP STATS
The OIT technology helpline, 1-HELP, handled over 12,100 calls in
March. See 1-HELP hours and self-help links at http://www.umn.edu/adcs/help/index.html
.
6TH AGGREGATE PURCHASING PROGRAM
On April 15, CLA, ADCS, OIT, and Purchasing will have teamed up
again to negotiate computer discounts on top of the normal higher
education pricing. We get this savings by purchasing a large sum
of a few configurations. Individual can also participate in the
program which runs April 15-May 31, 2005. See http://www.UMart.umn.edu/.
NEW COURSE: WEBCT VISTA GRADE BOOK AND REPORTS
This brand new course will teach faculty and course designers the
finer points of working with WebCT Vista's grade book and reports
features. You will learn how to use the grade book to manage access
to your site, customize and work with data in the grade book, and
review some of Vista's built-in reports. See http://uttc.umn.edu
.
NEW TRAINING: MICROSOFT PROJECT 2003
Looking for a more efficient way to manage your projects? This Microsoft
Office application might be just the help you need. During this
highly interactive course, you will follow the life-cycle of a project
from its inception to its completion. Along the way, you will learn
how to organize resources, costs, and timelines for the administration
of group tasks. See http://uttc.umn.edu
.
NEW COURSE: ACCESS 2003 DATABASE DEVELOPMENT
BASICS
This redesigned, introductory course picks up right where our Relational
Database Design Basics course leaves off. Database Development Basics
provides hands-on training on the skills necessary for setting up
and editing tables, forms, queries, and reports in Access. Yes,
you can learn to develop relational databases! See http://uttc.umn.edu
.
UPDATED COURSE: SPSS 13 BASICS
Newly updated to the most current version of SPSS, this course provides
a hands-on introduction to getting started using SPSS for data analysis
and report writing. You will even have open lab time to work on
your own individual projects. See http://uttc.umn.edu
. SPSS software is available through the ADCS Software License Program
at http://www.umn.edu/software
.
UNPAID BILLS: MODEM AND WIRELESS ACCESS
Currently, if your U of M modem access is turned off because of
an unpaid bill, your wireless access is also off. You can pay the
amount due online with Visa or MasterCard; allow up to 4 hours to
regain access. If you cannot reach http://www.umn.edu/validate to
make a credit card payment, call 1-HELP. For in-person and mail
payment options, see http://www.umn.edu/nts/services/modembilling.shtml#pay.
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Digital
Media
Center
DMC home |
REMINDER: WATCH TECH TALK
University and local experts discuss the digital technology we encounter
in our daily lives Sundays at 9 p.m on TC Public TV channel 17.
The next episodes are "New Ways to Learn" on April 10,
"3-D Graphics" on April 17, and "Home Automation"
on April 24. Details at: http://techtalk.umn.edu
.
APRIL 7 SEMINAR: TEL FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AND
SUPPORT
Panelists will discuss collegiate/departmental faculty technology-enhanced
learning (TEL) support and development strategies: April 7, 12:00-1:30
p.m., 274 McNeal Hall. See http://dmc.umn.edu/series/spring05.shtml#3
.
APRIL 15 EXHIBIT: 2004 TEL GRANT PROJECTS
The 2004 technology-enhanced learning (TEL) grant recipients or
members of their development teams will present the outcomes of
their grant projects at a poster exhibit: April 15, 2:00-3:00 p.m.,
President's Room, Coffman Memorial Union. See project descriptions
at: http://dmc.umn.edu/grants/2004/awards04.shtml
.
MAY 3 SEMINAR: FACULTY TEL LEADERSHIP WIKI
DMC faculty fellows will introduce their technology-enhanced learning
(TEL) wiki, a collaboratively created web site, explain how it grew
out of a discussion about bringing TEL issues back to their departments,
and more: May 3, 12:00-1:30 p.m., 402 Walter Library. See http://dmc.umn.edu/series/spring05.shtml#4
.
FEB AND MARCH: TEL SEMINAR RECORDINGS AVAILABLE
You can link to Macromedia Breeze Live recordings of the last two
TEL seminars from the spring 2005 TEL seminar series page: http://dmc.umn.edu/series/spring05.shtml#4
.
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The
URL of this document is http://umtechbrief.umn.edu/05/tb0405/tb0405.html
E-mail UM Tech Brief website comments to oitbrief@umn.edu
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