PUBLICATIONS Inside Illinois Vol. 25, No. 10, Nov. 17, 2005

CITES offers free software, workshops to promote computer safety

By Sharita Forrest, Assistant Editor
217-244-1072; slforres@uiuc.edu

A shopping spree can be fun but also very expensive – especially if you’re unwittingly picking up the tab for someone else, as one staff member on the Urbana campus discovered recently when she became a victim of identity theft. When she made an online purchase with her credit card, a thief was able to steal her information, make unauthorized transactions with her credit card and siphon money from her bank account.

To help computer users protect themselves against identity thieves as well as unwanted e-mails, spyware and computer viruses, Campus Information Technologies and Educational Services is hosting a series of workshops during November, which CITES has designated Computer Safety Month.

“Burglars will pass by a house where the lights are on, people are home and there’s a dog in the yard,” said Mike Jahn, computer security outreach coordinator in CITES Security Services. “And it’s the same with computers: The more difficult you can make it for someone to gain unauthorized access, the more likely they are to pass you by.”

Whether users are surfing the Internet, checking their e-mail at the office or lingering with their research data and a cappuccino in a coffee shop, they need to ensure that their information and their computers are protected. When one computer falls prey to a hacker or malicious virus, it has the potential to wreak havoc with hundreds or thousands of other users if the infected computer spreads the virus over campus networks, as hundreds of students at the Urbana campus recently found out when their computers were infected with the Backdoor.sdbot virus, a program spread by Internet relay chat messages that enables hackers to seize control of infected computers.

In the Computer Safety Month workshops, users will learn how to use software applications, some of which are available as free downloads, as a first line of defense and receive some common-sense tips on protecting themselves and their computers from malicious mischief-makers. The remote computing safety workshop will show users how to use Virtual Private Network software – provided free by the university to authorized users – to create an encrypted conduit that prevents other computer users from intercepting their transmissions when they’re using wireless Internet services.

The CITES Security Services Web site also provides detailed information on basic actions a user can take to protect their computer and their information. Common security scenarios, such as protecting a laptop computer that’s used at home and on campus, are provided and the steps users need to take to ensure they’re computing safely are explained.

Think you need a degree in computer science to figure out what to do? Think again. By answering a few questions about your computer’s operating system and the services and software you use, the Security Wizard on the CITES Security Web site will create a checklist of security measures and advice applicable to your situation.

The Security Wizard guides you through downloading patches and updates to correct vulnerabilities in your operating system, using personal firewalls for security and downloading and installing the anti-spyware program Ad-Aware SE Professional, which is available free for use by faculty and staff members and students.

Even if you’re doing everything right to protect your machine, you can become vulnerable if you allow other people – students or your family members – to share your computer. Spyware that can help thieves steal information such as your passwords or credit card numbers can be installed inadvertently along with file-sharing programs such as Kazaa, BitTorrent and Limewire that are used to share music files.

How can you tell if spyware has been installed on your computer?

Be aware of your computer’s normal behavior, Jahn said. If the computer is suddenly operating very slowly, if you’re suddenly getting lots of pop-up windows, if you see shortcuts on the desktop or programs on your computer that you don’t recognize, your computer may have been infected with spyware.

For assistance with computer problems, call CITES Help Desk at 244-7000. To report a security emergency, call CITES Security Services at 265-0000.

Computer security workshops

• ID Theft Prevention Workshop
  Nov. 18, 9 a.m. Room 113 Davenport Hall
  A 45-minute workshop with information on how identity theft occurs, ways to prevent it and what to do if you are a victim. No registration is required.
  
• CITES Spam Control Training
  Nov. 28 (location to be announced)
  A 45-minute workshop covering the fundamentals for using the service to filter out unwanted e-mail. Registration required. To register: http://training.cites.uiuc.edu/spam/default.htm
  
• Remote Computing Safety Workshop
  Nov. 30, 2 p.m. Room 113 Davenport Hall
  An educational program to introduce users to a number of concepts and practices, including anti-spyware and anti-virus software, as well as data and laptop security issues. No registration required.

More information on computer security, upcoming workshops and how to recognize and report a security incident is available online.

CITES Help Desk will relocate Nov. 28
The CITES Help Desk will relocate to Room 1211 of the Digital Computer Laboratory as of Nov. 28. The Help Desk will remain open for business in 1420 DCL, its current location, as its 18 workstations are moved during Thanksgiving break, Nov. 21-25. The new space is easily accessed through the Digital Computer Laboratory’s Springfield Avenue entrance adjacent to the Kenney Gymnasium.

“The biggest advantage of the new space is that it will be much easier for our customers to find,” said Kathy Lyons, assistant manager of the CITES Help Desk. Lyons said that CITES is expanding the Help Desk to better accommodate the needs of its customers and streamline the organization’s resources and personnel.

In addition to the more convenient location, the Help Desk will have a waiting area and space for four more workstations. All workstations will now have room for consultants to work one-on-one with clients.

The Help Desk offers assistance with CITES services and other computing needs, including CITES Express E-mail and CITES NetFiles, as well as setting passwords and more. Initial assistance is provided free of charge to students, and faculty and staff members.

Walk-in assistance is available in the Digital Computer Laboratory 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 244-7000 for telephone assistance Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 5 to 8 p.m. For off-campus assistance, call 800-531-2531 during business hours.

Customers may also e-mail for assistance.

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