The official launch of Windows 8 is just around the corner and with it comes a new feature that could change how some businesses distribute and manage Windows installations for their employees.This new feature, “Windows To Go”, has been missing from the Windows OS environment for some time now.
Windows To Go allows Windows 8 to be installed, loaded, and operated from USB devices. Continue reading “Windows 8 To Go allows install and operation off USB drive”
K-State recently purchased a device that simplifies the proper disposal of magnetic storage media such as computer hard drives, tapes, and floppy disks. The device is a Garner HDTD-8800 DeGausser, for those who care about such details, which is basically a very strong magnet that scrambles data on the storage media in a manner that prevents recovery of the data. Located in K-State’s Recycling Center behind Weber Hall, Facilities staff now process all hard disks, tapes, and floppy disks with the degausser before disposal.
Continue reading “New device simplifies secure disposal of computer hard drives, tapes”
The “Traveling Safely” PowerPoint presentation from the IT security roundtable May 7 has been added to the other presentations available on the IT security roundtable website. Harvard Townsend, K-State’s chief information security officer, offers information that’s also good for those staying home — such as the latest security risks and safety guidelines for using:
IT crime statistics
Townsend’s presentation noted that ATM fraud is “rampant in Europe” and is also a growing threat in the U.S., with annual loss estimated at $1 billion/year, or $350,000 per day.
Laptop thefts remain a big concern. Six laptops have been stolen on the K-State campus this year (2010), Townsend said. An estimated 16,000 laptops per week are lost or stolen in airports (U.S. and Europe).
Continue reading “IT security: "Traveling Safely" PowerPoint slides from May 7 roundtable”
With the ever-increasing use of the scanning machine to grade Scantron forms over the next few months, here’s some resources to help faculty and graduate teaching assistants use it easily and safely.
Remember, the IT Help Desk (214 Hale Library) is adjacent to the scanner if you need help.
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”
September’s edition of the monthly IT security roundtable discussions sponsored by SIRT is scheduled 9-10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, in Union 213. Topics are:
PGP Whole Disk Encryption (WDE) software is now ready for installation by those who purchased licenses last winter. In December 2008, K-State departments combined to make a bulk purchase of 1,012 PGP WDE licenses at a steeply discounted price for both Windows and Mac computers to provide another layer of protection for confidential information. Given the propensity for laptops to get stolen, whole disk encryption is a critical tool for protecting data stored on laptops. This product can also encrypt hard drives in desktop computers that store confidential data, as required by K-State policy.
Technical contacts in the departments that purchased licenses were contacted within the last week with installation instructions. More information about this important project, including an FAQ, is available on K-State’s PGP website. If you did not receive the e-mail with installation instructions and you believe you should have, contact Harvard Townsend right away (harv@k-state.edu, 785-532-2985).
Continue reading “Departments: PGP encryption software released for installation”
