Security web sites are reporting a new type of virus attack that tricks Internet search engines into falsely promoting malicious web sites to the top of the results list for some searches. If a user then visits one of the malicious sites, they are prompted to download and install the MS AntiSpyware 2009 Rogue Security Software, which is actually malware.
Please do NOT respond to any web-based attempts to get you to install anti-spyware software. As long as you have an up-to-date version of McAfee VirusScan+AntiSpyware on your computer, you are well protected.
A new crop of malicious worms and viruses is now hitting Windows computers across the Smith campus. The best known is the Conficker C worm, which is set to activate April 1st, but here’s the good news – follow these three rules of thumb and you should be fine:
- Make sure you have the latest Windows security updates installed on your computer. To check, open Internet Explorer and go to Tools /Windows Update. Click on the Express button and wait while the program scans your computer. If it finds any missing updates, install them right away.
Note: The safest way to ensure your updates are current is to set your computer to install them automatically. Go to Start /Settings /Control Panel /Security Center. If Automatic Updates are turned off, click on the Turn on automatic updates button.
- Make sure your McAfee VirusScan program is up to date. To check, right-click on the VirusScan shield in the lower right corner of your screen and choose About VirusScan. If you don’t have VirusScan Enterprise and AntiSpyware Enterprise 8.7.0i, go to the Smith software page and follow the instructions to install that version.
- Be very suspicious of any unsolicited emails you receive, with or without attachments. It used to be easy to spot fake messages because of spelling and grammar mistakes and sloppy graphics, but hackers are much more sophisticated now. Be sure to read every message carefully, and never open an attachment or send any reply unless you’re sure it’s okay. And NEVER send anyone your username, password, or any other personal information.
Thank you for your help in keeping your computer and the Smith network virus-free.
February 24, 2009 – 3:34 pm
Beginning March 1st, 2009, Smith’s primary email identity is switching from @email.smith.edu to @smith.edu. Your @smith.edu addresses has already been working properly for some time, but it will now be the preferred format.
(Don’t worry – your @email.smith.edu address will continue to work as usual.)
The college is switching to this simpler form to save keystrokes, streamline our email processing, and give Smith addresses the same format used by most other academic institutions..
IMPORTANT: You should start using your @smith.edu address to log in to the MessageScreen quarantine system. Also, if you subscribe to any email lists, you may need to change your subscription setup so you can continue posting to the list..
For more information, see: http://www.smith.edu/tara/groupwise/simple_address.html
February 23, 2009 – 2:49 pm
During the spring semester, ITS will be installing multiple new wireless access points in academic buildings across campus. All users in these locations, including Smith students, faculty, and staff, will be required to connect to the wireless network using Cisco Clean Access (CCA), a network authentication and security system.
CCA has virtually eliminated virus problems on the Smith residence network, so we are expanding its use across campus. To learn all about CCA, click here.
December 5, 2008 – 2:16 pm
New malicious email messages containing destructive worms, viruses, and data-capture attempts are continuing to hit Smith email accounts. Our McAfee and MessageScreen systems are trapping most of these messages, but new variants keep popping up, and some manage to get ahead of our defenses.
Because of these attacks, please be VERY WARY of any unsolicited email message that has an attached ZIP file, or that urges you to link to a web site and provide personal information. (These fake web sites may be very convincing, so don’t be fooled!) If you receive a message like this, do not open any attached file or follow any links it contains. Instead, delete the message.
In addition, all Windows users should check regularly to be sure their VirusScan definitions are up to date. To update your definitions at any time, right-click on the VirusScan icon in the lower right corner of your screen and choose Update Now.
Thank you for your help in keeping your computer and the Smith network free of malicious software.
October 31, 2008 – 10:55 am
If your Windows computer is running slowly, the background “wallpaper” on your desktop could be part of the problem. Wallpaper images, especially if they’re animated, can cause all your programs to slow down.
That’s because, in addition to taking up space on your hard drive, wallpaper diverts some of your system’s memory and processing resources. For example, whenever you open or move a window, these resources must be available to refresh the wallpaper image.
So if your computer seems slow to respond, try disabling your wallpaper. Here’s how:
1. Right-click in an open area of your desktop and choose Properties from the pop-up menu.
2. In the Properties window, click on the Desktop tab.
3. In the Background list, click on the None option.
4. If you don’t like the default blue color, pick a different color from the Color menu.
5. Click OK to close the Properties window.
Your computer will thank you!
September 30, 2008 – 3:38 pm
If your Windows computer is running slowly, part of the problem could be malware (spyware and parasiteware) clogging up your system. You could install Spybot and Ad-Aware and run them once a week OR you could simplify your life by installing McAfee’s new AntiSpyware program.
Unlike Spybot and Ad-Aware, McAfee’s AntiSpyware runs continuously in the background, deletes malware automatically, and updates itself automatically, so your computer is faster and more secure without any extra work from you.
To get McAfee AntiSpyware for yourself, install the McAfee VirusScan 8.5 upgrade from the Smith software download page:
http://www.smith.edu/smithsoftware
If you have any problems with the installation, call the User Support Center at x4487.
September 9, 2008 – 10:44 am
Please remember – NEVER give out your username or password in response to an email request. Our GroupWise administrator reports that a number of new and very clever “phishing” emails have been hitting Smith email accounts. MessageScreen is stopping most of them, but if you have MessageScreen filtering turned off, you are particularly at risk.
The message below is a typical example of such an attack:
Read More »
August 18, 2008 – 2:29 pm
If you receive an email message with the subject line:
”Our web address www.smith.edu is switched off”
PLEASE IGNORE the content and DELETE THE MESSAGE. The links in the message are fake, and clicking on them can provide a pathway for a virus to install itself on your computer.
Thank you for your help in keeping your computer and the Smith network virus-free.
If you wanted to create a PDF file from a Word 2003 document, you could use the Adobe PDF button, the Adobe PDF menu, or the ”PDF printer” option. In Word 2007, you must use the “PDF printer” option, as follows:
- Click on the Office button and select Print.
- In the Printer Name field, select Adobe PDF from the drop-down menu, then click OK.
- In the Save PDF File As window, navigate to the location where you want to save the PDF file, rename the file if desired, then click OK.
Note 1: Use this same method to create a PDF within any Office 2007 application.
Note 2: If you want to change the PDF settings for a document, you must use Adobe Acrobat Professional. Open Acrobat, open your document, change the settings, then convert the document to a PDF within Acrobat.
For answers to other frequently-asked questions about Word 2007, click here.
