Secure Your Home Windows PC
Be it a virus, worm, Trojan horse or worse, there’s nothing more pesky than a computer infected with malware. You trust that appropriate security is enabled on campus computers—no worries there—but what about your home system? How do you know what you need?
According to Robert Vamosi, former senior editor at CNET.com, current security, risk and fraud analyst and staff writer for the Windows Secrets online newsletter, Windows users should consider four components for minimum computer security: a firewall, security software, a software update service and a secure browser.
Use a Firewall
A firewall is a gate between your computer and the Internet which denies or permits traffic based on a set of rules you configure. If you use a router at home, there is probably a firewall included with this device. A software firewall is included with Windows XP and Vista (see the Security Center in the control panel). To learn more about using a firewall, read this article at the Microsoft Security site, How to choose a firewall.
Use Security Software
Security software protects your PC from viruses, Trojans, spam and other malware. If you use your home computer to access the ECU network for class assignments or work, Symantec’s Endpoint security suite is available to you through the ECU/Symantec campus agreement. To download, visit download.ecu.edu and sign in with your Piratemail account/passphrase. Click Virus and Security Applications.
Use a Software Update Service
Most users rely on Microsoft Update to keep their Windows operating system and Office programs up to date. But the security conscious understand that it’s also necessary to keep non-Windows programs current as well. Vamosi’s Security Baseline article includes other update services to try, but for most PC users, Windows Update is a good start.
Vamosi’s article also recommends that users set Windows Update to “Notify me but don’t automatically download and install.” This way, users choose which updates to install, which can be important. For example, Microsoft is urging users to download Internet Explorer 8, but ECU has not yet finished testing IE 8’s compatibility with other online systems like Banner.
Use a Secure Browser
No matter which browser you use—Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome or others—make sure to use the latest version. While browser updates can include a fun, new feature, more often than not the update patches a security hole, so never delay updating your browser!
And a word of caution: Several browsers offer a feature that “remembers” passwords and other login information for sites you often visit. However, according to the ITCS Security team, NEVER allow your browser to remember usernames or passwords! If a hacker accesses your system, he/she will have access to this information as well. For more information on this topic, see our Web page at http://www.ecu.edu/itsecurity/Web-Browsers.cfm.
Yep, it’s a jungle out there. But awareness of even a few security considerations goes a long way toward making your Internet excursions safer with fewer hassles.
Welcome Back Students and Faculty!
Information Technology and Computing Services (ITCS) is here to assist with your instructional, research and administrative technology needs.
With a re-designed Web site and several exciting new services, we’re thinking this may be your best year ever—keep reading to learn about a few of our newest technology tools.
Services At-a-Glance
Visit the ITCS home page for links to all of our resources.
Create Academic Web Space (NEW!)
Go to http://myweb.ecu.edu/, log in with your ECU Piratemail address and passphrase, and click the Create Web Space link. Create a new site, manage permissions and even transfer files to and from your Web site using your favorite browser…even create a blog! You can also go directly to http://blog.ecu.edu/ and create your WordPress blog.
Microsoft Expression Web (NEW!)
An editor similar to DreamWeaver, download Microsoft Expression Web for your university-owned computer from the university software download site at http://download.ecu.edu/. Online tutorials for Expression Web can be found at http://expression.microsoft.com/ (click “Video Tutorials” in the right menu) or visit http://www.learnexpression.com/.
Access to Software, Anytime Anywhere (NEW PROGRAMS ADDED!)
ECU Pirates connect to the ECU Virtual Computing Lab (VCL) from home or residence hall and use the available software programs for class assignments. Whether they make a reservation (recommended) or log on immediately, the VCL is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ECU students. Faculty who wish to request software for a specific course should submit the Virtual Computer Lab Image Request form through the IT Help Desk or send an e-mail to vcl_help@ecu.edu.
Smart Classrooms
ECU has more than 300 Smart Classrooms spanning both the Main and Health Sciences campuses. Whether you need a classroom, conference room or an auditorium, a variety of technologies can be found in any of these locations. Visit the Smart Classrooms Web site for more information: http://www.ecu.edu/itcs/smartclassroom.
Launch a Survey
We offer faculty and staff an easy-to-use, online survey tool named Perseus. A training guide is available on the ECU Perseus Web Site (www.ecu.edu/itcs/perseus) under Getting Started. Submit a request for access through the IT Help Desk.
Share Online Workspace, Collaborate on Research
SharePoint (http://collab.ecu.edu/) allows groups, such as a project team or research committee to work together within a centralized, password-protected Web environment and share documents, participate in online meetings, plan events, and more. Sites are initially limited; however, you may request additional space, if necessary. External contributors (non-ECU faculty/staff) can be provided access. Submit a request for access through the IT Help Desk.
Get Software
ITCS offers faculty and staff a variety of software such as statistical packages (SPSS, SAS, NVivo) and Camtasia to install on their university-owned computer. Log in to the Online IT Help Desk to submit software request forms. Through special educational software agreements, you can install Symantec AntiVirus and Microsoft Office 2007 (Windows)/Office 2008 (Mac) on your home computer that you use for work purposes. Symantec AntiVirus can be downloaded from http://download.ecu.edu/; faculty and staff may purchase a CD with Microsoft Office from the Dowdy Student Stores for a minimal fee. You must present your ECU 1 Card and sign a “work-at-home” agreement.
Training (NEW!)
Visit the ITCS Learning Center for tutorials – PDFs, videos – on topics like CommonSpot and Piratedrive, and check out links to helpful external training sites.
SAS provides ECU with a limited number of training credits each year to be used by faculty and staff. Choose from two training formats – face-to-face classroom training or Live Web online courses – designed to satisfy your unique learning style. Visit http://support.sas.com/training/options to view the course catalog and training dates/times/locations. Contact Jennifer Raby at rabyj@ecu.edu to register for courses.
Help
IT Help Desk 252.328.9866 / 1.800.340.7081
Call with an immediate problem, submit a non-emergency IT question through an online service request or start a live chat with a technology support technician via the Web site.
Walk-In IT Help Desk Austin Building, Room 103 / 252.328.5401 / Health Sciences Building, Room 3330 / 252.744.3330
Walk-in IT support (faculty/staff) for software, networking, virus/malware trouble, Opscan sheets and more. Need to meet with a technology consultant? Call ahead to set up a one-on-one appointment. Students should stop by the ACE student computing support center for hardware and software support.
And don’t forget to subscribe to the ECU Technology Digest Blog today!
Here’s to a successful 2009-2010 academic year—
Special IT Hours for Move-In Weekend
Summer’s over, and it’s time to open the books! Or the laptop…or the iPod…or the Smart phone.
Or any of the new technologies ITCS is now supporting at ECU.
While moving in to the residence halls this weekend will make you work up a sweat, connecting to ECU’s network will be cool work as we’ve extended our help hours as follows:
ACE Student Computing Support Center (Rawl 108)
Temporary Locations in College Hill Computer Lab (Aycock Hall) and
West Neighborhood Computer Lab (White Hall)
Thursday, August 20 – Sunday, August 23, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
IT Help Desk and RezNet (student assistance)
Thursday, August 20 & Friday, August 21, 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 22 & Sunday, August 23, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Monday, August 24, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Walk-in IT Help Desk (Austin 103)
Thursday, August 20 & Friday, August 21, 8:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 22, 12:00 noon – 3:00 p.m.
Monday, August 24, 8:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Austin Computer Lab (Austin 104)
Thursday, August 20 – Sunday, August 23, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Monday, August 24, 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m.
Normal hours resume Tuesday, August 25. For more information on Help Desk and Lab hours, visit http://www.ecu.edu/cs-itcs/Hours.cfm
Lenovo Issues Battery Recall
Lenovo has issued a battery recall that impacts six ThinkPad models – T60, T61, R60, R61, X60 and X61.
Lenovo states that this is not a safety recall and does not pose a safety hazard.
However, if you receive any of the following messages:
• Irreparable damage
• Battery cannot be charged
• Low battery capacity
Navigate to the Lenovo site (link below) and check the part numbers for your ThinkPad and battery.
http://download.lenovo.com/lenovo/content/batt/082009/LandingPage.html
Next, download the Battery Diagnostic Tool posted on that Web page. If this test fails, you will be directed to a Web form to request a replacement battery.
Please note that your laptop has to be 12 months or fewer past the warranty expiration to qualify for a free replacement battery.
Renewal Codes Available for SPSS and Amos
Codes for the statistical software programs SPSS and Amos recently expired on July 31, 2009. If you’re just getting back to campus and need the renewal code/installs before the semester begins, they are available from the new ECU Download Center.
To access the codes/installs of versions 16, 16.0.1 (patch), 17, 17 patches, and the new version 17.0.2, you are required to complete an online form as part of ECU’s license agreement contract with these vendors (if you have an online form pending, you do not need to complete another form).
Follow these instructions to submit a software request:
1. Navigate to the IT Help Desk page at http://help.ecu.edu
2. Choose Online Request from the Contact Us section of the page and log in
3. Choose the appropriate online form from the Request Software section on the left
4. Complete and submit the form—be sure to answer all required information to avoid delays
5. Download instructions and the license code will be e-mailed to you within 48 business hours.
Please Note: Do not give this software to others; it is important that we maintain accurate records of all users so that we can continue to provide these programs without cost to the ECU community.