November 2015

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Division of Information Technology
P.O. Box 6888
Radford, VA 24142
Phone: (540) 831-5173
Fax: (540) 831-6217
Email: cio@radford.edu

Division of Information Technology
Radford University

AntiVirus software transition for university computers

The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) is in the process of transitioning from the Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) to Microsoft System Center Endpoint Protection (SCEP) antivirus software. This will be the default antivirus/malware application for university-owned computers.

In August, classroom and computer lab computers were transitioned to this software. In December 2015, the Technology Assistance Center will begin installing the managed version of the Microsoft SCEP on Windows computers. Most users will not need to make any adjustments to their current computer configuration as this will be an automated install and will not require user interaction.

You will see the following changes to software installed on your machine:

• If you currently have Symantec installed, you will notice that Symantec security software will be uninstalled. The Symantec icon will no longer appear in the notifications area on the taskbar.
• Microsoft's System Center Endpoint Protection will be installed and activated on your computer. A new green icon will appear in the notifications area of the taskbar for the Microsoft System Center Endpoint Protection program.

If you have questions, please contact the Technology Assistance Center at 540-831-7500.

MOAT Security Awareness Training

Users who have not yet completed their annual MOAT IT security awareness training may be receiving email reminders to log in and complete the training. These notifications are legitimate and you do need to complete the training.

Rather than clicking on the link in the email, you may also visit the MyRU login page and click on the "IT Security Training" located at the bottom of the login page to access the training directly. Questions about the concepts, or to report difficulties with the MOAT account and login, should be directed to itsecurity@radford.edu.

Technology Support Survey coming soon

In a continuing effort to enhance technology support, DoIT will soon be conducting an online survey. The goal of the survey is to obtain feedback and identify areas of improvement and how to best meet the technology support needs of the campus community. Watch for a separate email that includes a link to this survey.

'Tis the season of compromise

This is a reminder as we enter the holiday season: there will be an increase in phishing and malware attachments in emails disguised as package deliveries, shopping credits, coupons and vendor promotions.

Be very careful at home and at work with these emails, even if you regularly shop with a vendor. Keep your virus definitions up-to-date and your system patched.

One way to check these emails for authenticity is to display the header information, and look for the Received: variable in the header. Sometimes this information shows the "Authenticated sender:" and that sender should be in the same domain as the one displayed in "Reply-to:" The full header may also display the X-Originating-IP (sometimes called X-IP) variable, and you can look up the IP address of the real sender at https://whois.arin.net/ui.

Don't be in a hurry to click!

You'll also be a lot safer if your email does not automatically download pictures from the Internet and if you turn off HTML formatting by default in preferences.

Each mail client requires a different method for displaying the header.

• OUTLOOK (WINDOWS): If the message is open, you can use File > Info button: Properties Older versions of Outlook use File > Properties to display the headers for a single message.
• OUTLOOK EXPRESS: Highlight the message and open Message Properties, Message Source.
• OUTLOOK FOR MAC (2011) Control-click the message in the middle pane, and scroll down the menu to "View Source."
• APPLE MAIL: Highlight the message, and choose View > Message > All Headers.
• GMAIL: Click the down arrow next to Reply, at the top-right of the message pane. Select "Show original."
• YAHOO: Click the "Full Headers" in the lower-right corner of the page.
• HOTMAIL: Right-click on the message in the Message list and choose "View source." If you are using the classic version of Windows Live Hotmail, this feature is not available.
• AOL: Click Action, View Message Source.

If you reply to a phish, or click on a message that downloads a malicious attachment, assume that your computer is compromised. For your home computer, you'll have to run a full anti-virus scan at the very least, and you might have to reinstall the OS.

Radford users who expose their Radford ID and password or think they have clicked on a malicious link should contact the Technology Assistance Center immediately at 540-831-7500 and change their password as soon as possible.

Holidays, the optimal time for cybercrime

Fifty-six percent of the surveyed participants at Defcon17 (2009) identified Christmas and New Year's holidays as the preferred time for hackers to attack networks.

As online shopping increases, it's important to remember that the network is still a hacker's playground. When you are shopping online:

• Avoid public computer terminals, and do not shop on public wireless networks.
• Set your computer to check for OS and virus updates every day.
• Update Java on a regular basis. (Verify you have the latest version at https://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp.)
• When you're on premise at a store, do not put your username and password into the store's kiosk machines when you're looking up the store's stock.
• Flush your browser's cache after every vendor purchase; don't bring your cookies and other stored information to other vendors.
• Check your credit card balances often.
• Set your phone to NOT automatically connect to the store's wireless in case it's insecure

Thanksgiving schedule for Young and Walker computer labs

Young Hall will be closed the week of Thanksgiving break. The hours of the Walker Hall computer labs during Thanksgiving break will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday.

Technology training offered

Academic Technology offers a number of workshops each month for faculty and staff. If you need training that is not included on the list below or would like to request a one-on-one, group or custom technology workshop, contact Academic Technologies 540-831-7521 or acadcomp@radford.edu. You may also visit the ITOneStop Solutions Library for a variety of online tutorials, Quick Reference Guides, "how-to" videos and articles to assist you with campus technologies.

To enroll in one of these sessions, visit the Training & Development System and login.

Meet the DoIT Staff

Chris Henry
Web and Interactive Media Designer


How long have you been employed in the Division of Information Technology at Radford University? I've been employed here since July 27 of this year.

Family: I have one sister, 24, and one brother, 19.

Hometown: Urbanna, Virginia

Education: Middlesex High School, Virginia
Radford University 2011- May 2015

Interests/Hobbies: I like running, design, photography and knitting like an 80-year-old grandmother.

Favorite vacation destination: don't necessarily have one, but I like the beaches in the summer, and Gatlinburg is pretty nice in the fall/winter.

Favorite part of your job: I have a lot of freedom when it comes to designing. The only solid guidelines I work around are branding guidelines, so other than that, I have control over solving design problems on my own. I also get to experiment with photography, crafts and new techniques; it's fun and also helps me avoid having slow, dragging days. I'm always learning something new, whether that may be a new program, studio equipment, skill or technique. It's also nice to be working for my alma mater while being a part of Radford University's continued success. It's fascinating to see just how much Radford University has changed in the four years I've studied here, but it's even better being able to take part in that change now that I'm working here. It's like my Radford experience has come full-circle.