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Tag: autoplay Microsoft Windows

Update Java software now; computer attacks occurring

Posted on by Harvard Townsend (harv@ksu.edu)

A vulnerability in Java, a programming language used in many applications and installed on most computers on the K-State campus, is being actively exploited on the Internet to take over control of computers. K-State’s network is being attacked many times a day, looking for computers to compromise via this vulnerability in Java, and at least three K-State computers have been compromised recently by this exploit. This vulnerability affects version 6 Update 23 or older of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE).

K-Staters need to:

  1. Update JRE in Windows to the latest version, which at the time of this writing is 6 Update 25 (Update 24 actually fixed the bug, so that version is safe too). You can get the latest version from Oracle’s Java website, or update it from the Java Control Panel in Windows.
  2. Configure Java to automatically check for and download updates in that same control panel. If configured for automatic updates, the Java icon (above) will appear in your system tray (usually in the lower right corner of the screen) to alert you that an update needs to be installed.

Continue reading “Update Java software now; computer attacks occurring” →

Malware spread by USB flash drives, hitting campus again

Posted on by Harvard Townsend (harv@ksu.edu)

Well, the students are back. For us security officers, it’s a love-hate relationship – you love ‘em because they’re young and enthusiastic and they help pay your salary, but you hate ‘em because they bring all kinds of malware to campus. So it’s no surprise that as soon as the semester began I started getting reports of malware spreading via USB flash drives, the first of which was reported by IT support staff who helped students in the residence halls.

To date, we have submitted to Trend Micro three different examples of malware found on USB flash drives at K-State, and in all cases Trend had a solution within 2-3 hours. However, much damage can occur in the time it takes that solution to be distributed to all computers on campus, so something more needs to be done.

To prevent infection by a USB flash drive, I STRONGLY encourage EVERYONE to disable autorun/autoplay on your Windows computers. Continue reading “Malware spread by USB flash drives, hitting campus again” →