CISO Memo: Don't Fall for Something in the Fall
I enjoy the crispness in the air, the smell of apples, the misty fields in the morning, and the coolness of the evenings. I also love the passion for NCAA field hockey, the excitement of the baseball races, and the start of the NHL.
Because of the privilege of working at Brown, I also love the energy that the students bring to campus each fall, and the opportunity to interact with both new and returning professors. And, of course, I can't forget the weekly farmers' market. . . «more...»
Everything but Lysol™: Cleaning an Infected Computer
Do you know the warning signs of an infected computer? How it got that way? Or what to do if your computer needs disinfecting?
We've prepared a quick-read list of the signs of infection, what tools you should keep in your toolbox when it comes time to do clean up, and the steps to take to get your computer back up and running again. We've also included a version of the short presentation with slides and audio track. . . «more...»
Profile: Bob Fletcher, IT Security Engineer
Bob Fletcher has been a member of CIS for over two decades. Initially working for the Computer Store when it was part of CIS, he later became a technician in Service & Repair. In 2001 he moved to the Network Technology Group where he took on ever growing responsibilities, eventually becoming a Security Engineer in September of 2007.
As part of the CIS reorganization in May of 2008 he became a member of the new ISG. Bob's work focuses primarily on the operational side of the ISG which includes firewall changes, vulnerability scans, and maintaining ISG systems. . . «more...»
Cyber Savvy? Learn Digital Self-Defense
As part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, ISG has planned several opportunities to learn how to keep you and your computer safe. Each week during October, ISG will present an important message along with related tools, classes, videos, games and quizzes to ratchet up your cyber-smarts. There's even an ongoing contest with an iPod touch as the grand prize.
Check out the site - enter the contest - view some cool videos (like The 10 Most Common Passwords). . . «more...»
Beware Bogus Spyware Protection
Here's an unfortunate twist for those who try to protect themselves with strong passwords, watch out for phishing messages and use anti-spyware/virus products. A recent crop of misleading malware protection applications is aimed at the security-aware Windows user, who knows that having anti-malware protection and doing frequent scans for threats is a good idea. . . «more...»
Scams and Hoaxes Alerts from SANS
The SANS Institute (SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security), an information security research and education organization, provides a wealth of information for everyone from newbie users to high-end info sec professionals. Their newsletters include Ouch! and SANS NewsBites, and they are packed with great tips and news articles to keep you informed and secure. You can subscribe to feeds or simply browse back issues from their newsletter page.
We're reprinting a few of their current alerts from the August and September editions of Ouch! as a sample, and to entice you to sign up or visit their site often. . . «more...»
Protecting Brown Information in the Classroom and Online
Over 1,500 individuals have taken the Protecting Brown Information class to learn what constitutes "Brown Confidential Information"; where, when and how it's at risk; and what need to be done to mitigate that risk. Are you one of them?
Classes are held the third Wednesday of each month (sign up at the Training.brown.edu site) and are also available online for those unable to attend in person. Check there also for periodic Safe Computing Brown Bags. For access to the online class, or to make suggestions for brown bag topics, email us at itsecurity@brown.edu.
Problems with this page? Write to secureit@brown.edu