How to keep your PC secure when Microsoft ends Windows XP support

 

 

If you can't cut the Windows XP cord completely, here's how to keep your computer as safe as possible once security patches go buh-bye

How to Use Malwarebytes' Anti-Virus App for Android

As platforms become more popular, they also become more susceptible to more malware and spyware. This is because malware and spyware programmers look to reach the most possible users to gain maximum profit from their harmful apps. Luckily Malwarebytes, makers the popular and useful Windows malware scanner, have an app for the Android platform. Linked below is a guide to using Malwarebytes for the Android.

How to Use Malwarebytes' Anti-Virus App for Android

iPad Air coming November 1st

The iPad Air is a thinner and lighter iPad, weighing only 1 pound. This is the fifth generation iPad with a 9.7 inch display. The pricing starts at $499 for a 16GB version with WiFi. More details are available here.

Ransomware

New Malware is evolving allowing new viruses to encrypt data/files on users' computers. Only way to get your data/file is to pay the ransom. These viruses are now being called Ransomware such as Reveton or Crypto Locker, and they attempt to extort money from victims by encrypting or blocking access to their data without their knowledge, then demanding a ransom in order to undo the damage, according to police and FBI officials.
Learn more about how to avoid ransomware and how to detect it.

                     http://www.microsoft.com/security/resources/ransomware-whatis.aspx

Antivirus for Mac OS, ClamXav

Contrary to common knowledge, Apple products are not immune to viruses and malware. As Apple products and OS X become more and more popular, so does the creation of new viruses for the platform. Fortunately, there is a reliable antivirus program for Mac OS X. ClamXav is easy to install and easy to use.  The program can be downloaded here. Once downloaded, the site also has a guide for installation and use.

Link to ClamXav guide.

New iOS is on the way

Apple just announced that a new redesigned OS for their mobile devices will be released on Sept. 18. iOS 7 will make your old phone seem new again. On Sept. 18 do the following on your iOS device, settings\general\software update. Make sure that you make a backup copy of your device before applying the update.  http://www.cgu.edu/PDFFiles/oit/helpdesk/Back-Up.iOS.using.iTunes.pdf

Amazon MatchBook Service Provides eBooks for Printed Books

Amazon MatchBook is a new service that will provide ebooks for print books that were purchased since 1995. The service will cost a small fee and will launch in October. More information here.

Recent Reports of DHS-Themed Ransomware

National Cyber Awareness System:

Recent Reports of DHS-Themed Ransomware (UPDATE)

07/30/2013 10:57 AM EDT

Original release date: July 30, 2013

US-CERT has received reports of increased activity concerning an apparently DHS-themed ransomware malware infection occurring in the wild. Users who are being targeted by the ransomware receive a message claiming that use of their computer has been suspended and that the user must pay a fine to unblock it. One iteration of this malware also takes a webcam (if available) photo or video of a recipient and posts it in a pop-up to add to the appearance of legitimacy. The ransomware falsely claims to be from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Division.
Users who are infected with the malware should consult with a reputable security expert to assist in removing the malware, or perform a clean reinstallation of their OS after formatting their computer's hard drive.
US-CERT and DHS encourage users and administrators not to pay the perpetrators and to report the incident to the FBI at the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Use caution when encountering these types of email messages and take the following preventive measures to protect themselves from phishing scams and malware campaigns that attempt to frighten and deceive a recipient for the purpose of illegal gain.

?         Do not click on or submit any information to webpages.

?         Do not follow unsolicited web links in email messages.

?         Use caution when opening email attachments. Refer to the Security Tip Using Caution with Email Attachments for more information on safely handling email attachments.

?         Maintain up-to-date antivirus software.

?         Users who are infected should change all passwords AFTER removing the malware from their system.

?         Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (pdf) document for more information on avoiding email scams.

Refer to the Security Tip Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks.

Using the Barracuda Spam Firewall

Barracuda can be a helpful spam management tool. This will give some tips on how to use Barracuda.

The Barracuda access URL is https://mailfilter.cgu.edu. From there, you can log in or download the Outlook add-in (fig. 1)

When the add-in is installed, it will show up in Outlook. The “Mark as Spam” and “Mark as Not Spam” buttons will help Barracuda learn which emails to block or let through (fig. 2). To login, the username is your email address. If you don’t know your password, you can click the “Create New Password” button and it will be sent to your email (fig. 3) Once logged into Barracuda, you can edit your blacklist and whitelist as well as change your spam settings. Email addresses and domains on the blacklist will be automatically blocked and whitelisted addresses and domains will be automatically sent through (fig. 4).

The email scoring system determines how aggressive Barracuda is at blocking possible spam. Remember that the lower the number, the more possibility Barracuda will tag/quarantine/block possible spam (fig. 5).

New GPS Unit Projects Display Directly Onto Cars Windshield

As a way to make looking at GPS more safe, Garmin has created a unit that projects an "HUD" directly onto the windshield. This means users will not have to take their eyes off the road while using GPS.

Full article here.

Yahoo! Email Has Intergrated With Dropbox

Yahoo! Mail will now allow large attachments to be sent using the Dropbox services. This will be handy for sharing large files via email which was restricted before. Dropbox is a hand tool for cloud storage.

More information and the full article here.

Caring for iPads and Laptops

Proper care of electronics can extend their life and usefulness. Here are some useful guides for caring for iPads and laptops.

Caring For Your iPad
Caring For Your Laptop

MOOC Resources

Unless you have been living on a remote island with no access to the news, you have been overwhelmed with  the 'buzz' around MOOCs. Needless to say, MOOCs are a 'hot topic' with many opinions and a volatile marketplace. Of course the best way to find out what it's all about is to sign up for one - and there are multitudes! Whether it's Coursera, edX, Udacity - or even Canvas.net, there are plenty of selections available. And you won't be alone if you sign up just to 'lurk' without really participating - it's a common practice.

It makes no difference what strategy you use to become better informed, but it's definitely worthwhile to find out what all of the buzz is about. Indeed, it will probably diminish - but I doubt it will just go away. The odds are high that it will be a permanent part of the online learning landscape for years to come, but in what way it's still too early to tell. Hopefully much will be gained from this 'grand experiment' in higher education.

So, to help you get started on your investigation, I'm adding a few resources here:

• The Educause Library on MOOCs - includes articles, events, and a definition; will continue to be updated
• The Chronicle "Major Players in the MOOC Universe" - informative graphic that includes investors, professors, board members, etc.
• The Chronicle "What You Need to Know About MOOCs" - continually updated information with timeline in the Technology section

Enjoy!

Carleen

How to recognize phishing e-mails

Since the volume of spam and phishing emails is up recently, it might be wise to be familiar with how phishing emails work so they can be recognized before any damage is done.

How to recognize phishing e-mails

Secured Passwords

With Spring here it's time to change your old password! Follow the eight easy rules below as a guide.

1.     Don't use passwords that are based on personal information that can be easily accessed or guessed.
2.     Don't use words that can be found in any dictionary of any language.
3.     Make the password at least 8 characters in length.
4.     Use both lowercase and capital letters.
5.     Use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters.
6.     Use passphrases when you can.
7.     Use different passwords on different systems.
8.     Don’t write down passwords where they are easily obtained.

CGU's Canvas Pilot

Since 2006, CGU has used Sakai as its Learning Management System (LMS). Sakai was selected consortium-wide and currently all of the Claremont institutions use Sakai as their LMS provider.

As a part of a market scan and update, last summer an LMS Review subcommittee of the Academic Computing Committee conducted an in-depth and extensive review of LMS products (Canvas, Desire2Learn, and MoodleRooms). Their recommendation was to launch Canvas Pilots to provide further opportunities for consideration and planning a possible transition from Sakai to Canvas. The pilots are:

Community College Certification Program, School of Educational Studies
Start Date June 1, 2013

SBOS Introduction to Evaluation for Development
Start Date June 2013

For further information on the review and pilots please visit the CGU LMS Review website.

Apple's watch will run iOS and arrive later this year

More details have come out about Apple's watch which will be coming out later this year. The watch will be running iOS which is the same OS running on current iPhones. Original link

Microsoft reopens 128GB Surface Pro online orders

Microsoft has been having trouble filling the demand for their Surface Pro orders but have just started allowing online orders again. However, they are saying that supplies will still be tight.



Original article

Mozilla-developed phones to launch in Europe this year

Smartphones developed by the creators of the Firefox web browser are expected to be launched in Europe in 2013. The phones will be meant to compete with Google's Android.

Original Article 

New generation iMacs have minimalist interior

Apple’s new 27” iMacs are following the same layout as their 21.5” iMacs on the inside. The 27” version, however, will have much more storage space with room for a full size (3.5”) hard drive.

Original Article