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Tag: eID

IT Security Roundtable Jan. 15: Help, passwords are driving me crazy!

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

It’s time once again to change your eID password so what better topic for this month’s IT security roundtable than managing your passwords. For online shopping, social networking sites, games, iTunes, PayPal, travel sites (frequent flyer accounts, Expedia, Orbitz, etc.), online banking (checking, savings, credit cards, loans), news and sports sites, blogs and wikis, cellphone account, home Internet provider, cable/satellite TV, your home computer, your laptop, your office computer, your departmental server, K-State’s eID, personal e-mail, K-State e-mail, flexible spending accounts… the list keeps growing. And all of them require a username and password. It’s enough to drive you crazy!

To help maintain your sanity, join us 9-10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15, in Union 213 to hear solutions to effectively manage your passwords:

Five things you need to know about IT security at K-State

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

Thousands of new faculty, staff, and students have arrived and a new semester has begun, so it is time to remind everyone of their personal responsibility in protecting themselves online and keeping K-State information and technology safe. To quote IT security experts, “the Internet is a bad neighborhood,”* and based on the number of security incidents at K-State thus far in 2009, it’s getting worse. You can still function safely online, though, if you take the time to learn about security and “think before you click.” Here are five things you need to know about IT security at K-State:

  1. Never give your password to anyone in an e-mail message. K-State has been plagued by more than 200 instances of e-mail scams over the last year that try to trick people into replying with their eID password (yes, that’s nearly one per day). In fact, thus far in 2009, nearly 300 K-Staters have had their eID password stolen this way. If you remember this one simple rule, you can prevent becoming a victim of these scams:  K-State IT support staff will never ask for your password in an e-mail, nor will any legitimate business or organization. If you get such an e-mail, just delete it.

    2. Continue reading “Five things you need to know about IT security at K-State” →

64 spear phishing scams and counting

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

Thus far in 2009, K-State has been the target of at least 64 different spear phishing scams that attempt to steal eID passwords, and at least 41 people have replied to the scams with their password. Of those 41 replies, 37 are known to have been used by criminals to log in to K-State’s WebMail system and send spam. That means K-State is averaging about two new scams every three days and one compromised WebMail account every two days.  The latest compromised eID resulted in someone logging into K-State’s WebMail from the island nation of Mauritius and sending spam from the K-State e-mail servers. Besides the embarrassment of contributing to the worldwide scourge of spam, this has resulted in K-State getting put on spam blocklists for the likes of Hotmail, MSN, and Comcast.

K-Staters are probably tired of hearing this  – IT support staff will never ask for your password in an e-mail. Follow that simple rule, and you will not become a victim of these scams.

Continue reading “64 spear phishing scams and counting” →

eID password deadline is only a week away (Feb. 11)

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

Wednesday, Feb. 11, is the deadline for all K-Staters to change the password on their eIDs for spring semester. This includes individual eIDs as well as group accounts. To change your eID password, go to the eid.k-state.edu site, sign in to your eProfile, and under Password Settings, click “Change your eID password or password-reset options.”

Continue reading “eID password deadline is only a week away (Feb. 11)” →

Five things you need to know about IT security at K-State

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

A new semester has begun, so it is time to remind everyone of their personal responsibility in helping protect themselves online and keep K-State information and technology safe. To quote IT security experts, “the Internet is a bad neighborhood,”* and based on the number of security incidents at K-State in 2008, it’s getting worse. You can still function safely online, though, if you take the time to learn about security and “think before you click.” Here are five things you should know about IT security at K-State: Continue reading “Five things you need to know about IT security at K-State” →

Password-change deadline for eIDs is Feb. 11

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

K-Staters have January through Feb. 11 to change the passwords on their K-State eIDs for the spring semester. This mandatory password change occurs each fall and spring, and applies to both individual eIDs and group eIDs. Long-term use of the same password is a known risk factor, which is why any K-State password cannot be re-used within a two-year period. Continue reading “Password-change deadline for eIDs is Feb. 11” →

Deadline to change eID passwords is Wednesday, Sept. 10

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

Many K-Staters were e-mailed Monday morning that they still need to change their eID password to meet the deadline Wednesday, Sept. 10, for the fall semester. Passwords not changed by the end of that day will be reset by the system, causing owners to lose access to e-mail and other IT resources until those passwords are updated.

  • Change your password: Sign in on the eid.k-state.edu website, click “Change your eID password”, and follow the steps.
  • Forgot your password? Call or stop by the IT Help Desk (785-532-7722, 214 Hale Library) and verify your identity. Staff can set a temporary password for you so you can sign in.
  • Tips for selecting a password, plus Q/As: Read the Password FAQs.

All K-Staters must change their passwords.  This includes individual eIDs, group eIDs, and special-access eIDs. The mandatory password change each fall and spring semester prevents long-term use of the same password, which is a known risk factor.   For the same reason, K-State passwords cannot be reused in a two-year period.

Password-change deadline for eIDs is Sept. 10

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

Wednesday, Sept. 10, is the deadline for changing passwords on K-State eIDs for the fall semester. This  mandatory password change each fall and spring semester applies to both individual eIDs and group eIDs.  It prevents long-term use of the same password (a known risk factor) and is the reason passwords cannot be reused in a two-year period.

  • To change your password:  Sign in on the eid.k-state.edu website,
    click “Change your eID password”, and follow the steps.
  • Forgot your password?  Call the IT Help Desk, 785-532-7722, and
    verify your identity. Staff can set a temporary password for you so
    you can sign in.
  • For more about passwords, including tips on choosing a good one, read the Password FAQs.

An e-mail reminder is typically sent to eIDs with unchanged passwords a week or
two prior to the deadline.