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May 24, 2013 | Robert Bayn
I get phish messages reported by my users.  There are generally several different ones a day that have links to a password collection web form at a host at webs[.]com.   I submit a complaint about the URL to the webs[.]com report page and they generally remove the page within a day.  But phishers probably get most of their passwords within the first day anyhow.

Six months ago, we were being phished with google spreadsheet form pages, but since the Oxford fiasco, Google has placed "do not enter your password on Google Forms" right above the submit button.  We hardly see Google forms linked in phish messages anymore.

Like Google, the Webs service is used for many non-hazardous purposes, too.  A brief attempt here to blacklist all of webs[.]com resulted in some complaints from people who actually use that service to host their personal/professional home page.  And I've seen other benign links to webs[.]com in...
May 24, 2013 | Greg Schmalhofer

Does anyone use the DNS service OpenDNS, either the free version or the purchased product called Umbrella, for their campus DNS service? If so I’d appreciate it if you could provide your thoughts on service. Or info if you are using another similar product.

 

-           How long have you used OpenDNS?

-           Have you seen a reduction in phishing attempts and/or malware on your campus network?

-           Have you seen any difference with performance?

-           Are you using the free or purchased version?

-       ...

May 15, 2013 | Rebecca Fowler

I’m trying to gauge what other institutions are doing regarding clickable links in instant messaging programs.  We currently block links that are sent through our Microsoft Lync implementation but we’d like to determine what other peer institutions are doing.

 

Does your university block clickable links through technical means? Do you allow clickable links but display a pop-up or warning message?  Or do you deal with this issue strictly from an awareness perspective?

 

Thanks for any information you can share!

 

Becky Thurmond Fowler, CISSP

Information Security and Access Management

Division of Information Technology

University of Missouri

(573)...

May 9, 2013 | John Kaftan
Hello:

I have been using 802.1x for a couple of years now on the wireless side and I am just starting to play with it on the wired side.

I have run into a snag.  I can authenticate with Windows 7 sp1 only if I save my credentials within the network settings or if my computer is on the AD domain and I check "Automatically use my Windows logon name and passoword". 

If I plug-in a machine that is not configured in either of the above ways Windows never prompts me for my credentials.

When I compare packet captures I see that, when it works,  the switch sends 1-2 eap packets initially and then the client responds with an eap packet and then the switch sends a challenge and so on.  

When it doesn't work I see the switch sending an eap packet and the client just doesn't respond so the process just stops right...
May 8, 2013 | Doug Pearson
May 8, 2013 To: IT Security Staff, and Network and DNS Administrators REN-ISAC ALERT: Prevent your institution from being an unwitting partner in denial of service attacks The REN-ISAC [1] wants to raise awareness and drive change concerning common network and domain name system (DNS) configurations that fall short of accepted best practice and which, if left unchecked, open the door for your institution to be exploited as an unwitting partner to crippling denial of service attacks against third parties. Please note important, specific recommended ACTIONS included below. Although attacks exploiting the network and DNS configuration weaknesses have been around for a long time, the frequency and impact of attacks have grown over the past year. These attacks may exploit thousands of institutional DNS servers to create an avalanche of network traffic aimed at a third-party victim. The traffic sourced by any single institutional system may be small enough to go unnoticed at the...
May 7, 2013 | Jessica Odom
I'm in a similar situation and am working through this same scenario.

1) We are considering using a separate VMware VDI which users
connect to via dedicated PCoIP devices.  Connecting via general
desktop would not be allowed.   Comments?

We're going to do this too and are looking using thin clients/terminals, so there wouldn't be another (local) OS involved.
 

2) With respect to the VDI solution, IF we allowed users to use
their general use desktop, is there a way to configure their
desktop such that it would NOT be part of the CDE?  For the
record the desktops would be Windows 7 machines.
 
I'm not a VDI expert, but if your VDI environment can reside on the cardholder network (with ACLs and/or...
May 7, 2013 | David A. Curry
I did promise a summary once the responses died down, so here it is. The following solutions were mentioned:
  • Add more bandwidth instead of trying to block
  • Procera
  • NetEqualizer
  • Exinda
  • TippingPoint IPS
  • SourceFire IPS
  • Fortinet
  • Cisco SCE
Exinda was mentioned by two people; all the others were mentioned by one person each. Everybody seems to be generally happy with their solutions; Procera and NetEqualizer received perhaps somewhat more enthusiastic "likes" than the others, but that's my subjective reaction.

Thanks to all who responded.


--Dave


--

DAVID A. CURRY, CISSP • DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SECURITY

THE NEW SCHOOL • 55 W. 13TH STREET • NEW YORK, NY 10011

+1 212...

May 7, 2013 | Listserv Anonymous User
Message from derek.diget+educause-security@wmich.edu

On May 7, 2013 at 08:24 -0400, Aaron Kirby wrote: =>I'm looking for some feedback/comments from this group. My organization is =>currently implementing Email Authentication (SPF/DKIM/DMARC) for our =>outgoing email traffic. Don't forget to post something to the Higher Education Email Administrators mailing list. =>We have been monitoring the traffic for a month or so and have noticed a =>few interesting nuances related forwarding. The situation is a user has =>defined their primary contact email address, however, when the message is =>sent to that address they most likely have an auto-forward rule to their =>"real" primary contact email address. The nuance comes in when we start =>looking at the effect of implementing a DMARC REJECT policy. A portion of =>the forwarded email appears to be fine, however, there is a portion that =>gets blocked. The vast majority of the blocked...
May 6, 2013 | Valerie M. Vogel
Hi Bryan, We have developed a Sensitive Data Exposure Incident Checklist that you may find useful: https://wiki.internet2.edu/confluence/display/itsg2/Incident+Checklist There is an online checklist, but you can also download a copy. Thank you, Valerie Valerie Vogel Program Manager EDUCAUSE Uncommon Thinking for the Common Good direct: 202.331.5374 | main: 202.872.4200 | twitter: @HEISCouncil | educause.edu From: Bryan Zimmer > Reply-To: EDUCAUSE Listserv > Date: Monday, May 6, 2013 10:07 AM To: EDUCAUSE Listserv > Subject: [SECURITY] Incident Response / Forensic Decision Tree Hi All, Does anyone have an Incident Response decision tree or process flow they can share? I'd like to see the whole flow from "We think we have a compromised box" to "Lessons Learned meeting." I'm especially interested...
April 29, 2013 | Adam Goldstein

The seventh annual Securing the eCampus conference will be held this July 16th and 17th at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. We invite you to join us in discussing the unique challenges of cyber security in higher ed and what it takes to build a culture of security at your institution. 

 

Our format this year will include a full day of presentations and panel discussions from leaders in the information security field on the 16th.   We have already confirmed the following speakers:

 

  • Dan Geer - Chief Information Security Officer of In-Q-Tel will deliver the keynote
  • Michael Corn and Jane Rosenthal - Respectively, the Chief Privacy and...
April 26, 2013 | Chirstopher Bohlk

Hello All,

 

I would like to know if anyone has a recommendation of an automated IT security quantitative risk analysis tool that was successfully used in your environment to create a reliable risk model? 

 

 

Thanks,

Chris

 

Chris Bohlk

Pace University

Information Security Officer

 

 

April 25, 2013 | Roy Wattanasin
Please send to all interested colleagues and students. Thank you!

-----

Hi Everyone:

Don't forget to register for *Security B-Sides Boston 2013* for our event on *Saturday, May 18th, 2013* at the Microsoft NERD building in Cambridge, MA* (near the Kendall/MIT red line stop) if you have not already done so.


"Security BSides Boston 2013 is a community-driven event, created by information security professionals. The goal of BSides is to expand the security conversation and engage the community.

Over 200 students, technologists and information security professionals will participate at BSides Boston this spring. Don't miss out and register today! Our keynote speakers will be Dr. Dan Geer and Joshua Corman." The updated schedule has been posted with topics like drone technology, privacy, live memory forensics, healthcare medical device security,...
April 23, 2013 | Listserv Anonymous User
Message from will.froning@gmail.com

Hello All,

I'm wondering if any of your institutions monitor logon/logoff time for attendance/holiday/sick leave violations. I'm not looking for a technical answer, just whether or not your schools do this. 

I'm trying to bring some support documents to the table so we can make an educated decision on if it's something we want to pursue. My feeling is that this is VERY unusual for HigherED, but links to policies or an email (with a yes/no) would be much appreciated.

If you like I can compile my responses (anonymously) and repost to the list if there's any interest.

Thanks,
Will

P.S. It was great meeting some of you at the STL conference. Hopefully I can make the trip for the next one.

--
Will Froning
Unix SysAdmin
...
April 15, 2013 | Dennis Bohn
We have been seeing these sort-of literary ones, like your sample #2.  No idea what purpose.
best,
Dennis Bohn
Manager of Network and Systems
Adelphi University
bohn@adelphi.edu
5168773327


April 12, 2013 | Dennis L. Self
Beth,

We have the requirement (not policy yet, but administration agreement) but not everyone has taken it.  The training, Securing the Human from SANS Institute, has been available for approaching two years.

Dennis Self, CISSP
Director, IT Security & Compliance
Technology Services
Samford University
(205) 726-2692

From: "Chancellor, Beth C." <ChancellorB@MISSOURI.EDU>
Reply-To: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv <SECURITY@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU>
Date: Friday, April 12, 2013 2:59 PM
To: <SECURITY@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU>
Subject: [SECURITY] Mandatory...
April 11, 2013 | John Ladwig
Not sure about this particular technology, but you describe the general problem I have with most biometric authentication proposals that involve untrusted processing pathways. -jml
April 8, 2013 | Listserv Anonymous User
Message from win-hied@bradjudy.com

This is a quick reminder for those who are coming to SPC and enjoy photography.  Join me for a morning photo-walk around the area and a breakfast table of photography chat.  If you’re interested, let me know.  If you want to take up my offer on trying a vintage camera that inspires modern retro-photography, be sure to let me know so I can bring the appropriate gear and film. 

 

Thanks,

 

Brad Judy

 

April 5, 2013 | Angelo D. Santabarbara
Currently we have them take the Email module.  The STH modules are SCORM compliant and as such can be used to build content in Black Board.  The person who works on this is on vacation, but I have found some on-line instructions posted by other universities like this one that may get you on the right track:  http://www.niu.edu/blackboard/faq/qa/scorm.shtml

Our SANS representative was also very helpful in guiding us on how to do this.  They provided this documentation: http://www.securingthehuman.org/media/support/SANS-STH-LMS-Documentation.pdf


 
Angelo D. Santabarbara
Director of Networks & Systems
Siena College
...
April 5, 2013 | Paul Kelly
Apologies for cross-postings.
Please send it to interested colleagues and students. Thanks!

CALL FOR PAPERS

********************************************************
World Congress on Internet Security (WorldCIS-2013)
Technically Co-Sponsored by IEEE Tokyo Section
August 5-7, 2013
Venue: Tokyo University of Information Sciences, Japan
www.worldcis.org
********************************************************

The World Congress on Internet Security (WorldCIS-2013)
is Technically Co-Sponsored by IEEE Tokyo Section.
The WorldCIS-2013 is an international forum dedicated to the
advancement of the theory and practical...
January 25, 2012 | Nicole Kegler
Has anyone read this article about the privacy changes being implemented by Google starting March 1? What are your thoughts? http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/google-tracks-consumers-a... -- Nicole Kegler Communications Manager University Information Security Office Georgetown University 202-687-5784 Protecting data is a shared responsibility! INSTALL antivirus and antispyware software. USE strong passwords. KNOW who you are dealing with online. STORE confidential and sensitive data on encrypted devices only. SHUT DOWN computers or disconnect from the Internet when it's not in use.
April 15, 2012 | Michael A. Schalip

Hi Folks....

Has anyone else been approached by Google Maps to allow them to "map your campus" in detail - presumably, for student navigation purposes??  Here's the "agreement" that they want us to sign off on.  I have some basic concerns, but - then again - my concerns may be completely unfounded.  So - I thought I'd offer this up to this group to see what your collective wisdom would respond with....(note the italicized entry)....

Let me know what you all think....

 

Thanks,

 

Michael

Agreement
We (the “Property Owner”, “Property Manager”, or “Property Operator”) hereby permit Google Inc. (through its employees, affiliates or agents) to enter the publicly accessible areas of the properties described above, at a time and in the manner directed by our designated...

December 8, 2011 | Michael A. Schalip

Hey Educause…..any thoughts here? 

 

We come on this discussion group for the free exchange of ideas – and THIS is allowed!?

 

Wow…..

 

From: Dennis Meharchand [mailto:dennis@valtx.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 1:25 PM
To: SCHALIP, MICHAEL
Subject: RE: Michael - Patent Infringement Notice

 

Michael,

 

I think your response was bad form.

I am instructing my lawyers to file the first patent infringement lawsuit against CNM.

 

Let’s see how much of a bad publicity stunt this is.

...
March 9, 2012 | Listserv Anonymous User
Message from zm23@columbia.edu

Hi All, Quick Poll Please: 1. Is your campus using, or does it plan to use, VPN access for remote users? 2 . What vendor(s) and protocols (SSL, IPSec, other) are you using? 3. How many concurrent remote users can your system support? 4. Do you offer any specialized/custom VPN services for departments, researchers, etc.? 5. Is your VPN offering part of your DR plan/requirement? Thanks! Zahid Mehmood Network Software and IT Enablement Systems Columbia University Information Technology
January 5, 2012 | Listserv Anonymous User
Message from pardonjr@purduecal.edu

Hello,

 

We are in the process of implementing whole disk encryption on our university owned laptops.  Initially, we will be using bitlocker on our Windows computers and I was looking to get some feedback from others on their experiences with roll out and management issues with this technology.

 

Thanks,

 

Jim

 

Please let me know if there is anything additional I can assist you with to ensure the service you received today has been excellent.

 

James R. Pardonek

Assistant Director...

February 27, 2012 | Listserv Anonymous User
Message from dsarazen@umassp.edu

Hi All,

 

Quick Poll Please:

 

1         Is your campus using, or does it plan to use, Two-Factor authentication for its most privileged users (e.g., system administrators logging in remotely)?

2         Do you think you should?

 

Thanks!

 

:: Daniel Sarazen, CISSP, CISA

:: Senior Information Technology Auditor
:: University Internal Audit
:: University of...

February 6, 2012 | David A. Curry
It's been a few years since this has come up on the list, so here goes.

For various administrative reasons having nothing to do with security we need to make some big changes to our self-service password reset approach, and I'm trying to capitalize on the opportunity to improve its security at the same time. At the moment, we do what (we think) many other schools do -- provide student id number, netid (username), and date of birth, and you can reset your password. The problem with this is, of course, it was never that hard to come up with that information in the first place, and the combination of students doing more and more stuff online and the growing use of social media makes it just that much easier.

So... what other approaches are you taking?

There is of course the "pick a few security questions" approach. But it's hard to come up with a set of questions whose answers aren't trivial to guess (...
November 28, 2011 | Ed Hudson

Hi All,

Polling to see how other campuses are handling DMCA take down notices. Ours has risen to a level current process is not working efficiently. We are hearing some universities are:

1) Ignoring notices from copyright holders

2) Outright blocking of file sharing as "95% are used for nefarious purposes"

Interested to see how other institutions are addressing.

Thanks

Ed

 

 

Ed Hudson, CISM
Information Security Office
California State University, Chico
http://www.csuchico.edu/isec/index.shtml
Office: (530) 898-6307
ewhudson@csuchico.edu

...

November 17, 2011 | Listserv Anonymous User
Message from dsarazen@umassp.edu

Hi All,

 

We have some folks who’d like to see Deepfreeze installed on all lab PCs, but the IT department is balking. What do people think is the best reason to not install deepfreeze? Is there one?

 

Thanks,

 

Dan

 

 

 

 

May 8, 2012 | Mark T. Nardone
Many of us have some form of "Guest Wireless Access", I am interested in what others are doing in terms of restricting that access. Do you: Require any kind of registration or authentication? Restrict the bandwidth, or access to ports and functionality in any way? Do you allow P2P from the guest range? Here at NEU we do not allow access to our preferred resources or core systems (data centers ect) from the guest range, but otherwise people have most functionality. What we have been seeing over the past year is an up-trend of people using the guest range to download copyright material. Our automated system will respond to complaints from outside entities and notify students they are in violation of our policies, but we do not have that ability with the guest network. Mark T. Nardone, CISSP, MIS Director of Information Technology Security Northeastern University 177:22 Huntington Boston , MA 02115 617.373.7901 (desk) 617.335.5082 (mobile) 617.373.6423 (fax)...
August 30, 2012 | Jason Youngquist

We are thinking about changing our network architecture.

 

As our network has grown and the complexity of our public facing systems and connectivity needs of those systems has increased, we are wondering what value our DMZ delivers. 

 

As an example, public facing systems in the DMZ that require access to LDAP/AD for AAA, SQL for database lookups, Exchange for mail delivery and relay, etc.

 

For those of you with non-trivial public facing systems, where do you draw the balance line between security and access?  If our most visible public facing systems (most likely to be attacked) require internal AAA & SQL access, what are we protecting? 

 

Given current system requirements and...

May 28, 2012 | Randy Marchany
Thanks to my buddy, Bryce Galbraith for this link. If you take a look at the Cybersecurity section, all of us have used these words in emails since it's our job. The link pretty much says what the topic is.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2150281/REVEALED-Hundreds-words-avoid-using-online-dont-want-government-spying-you.html

To my fellow conspirators who want a pork sandwich in Mexico, I salute you! This'll make sense when you read the article. :-)

-r.


March 23, 2012 | Listserv Anonymous User
Message from dsarazen@umassp.edu

Hi All,

 

Quick Question: If Windows were to release a critical patch for a server today, how long should it take to install the patch before you’d consider it TOO long?

 

Thanks, 

 

:: Daniel Sarazen, CISSP, CISA

:: Senior Information Technology Auditor
:: University Internal Audit
:: University of Massachusetts President's Office

:: 774-455-7558

:: 781-724-3377 Cell
:: 774-455-7550 Fax
::...

March 19, 2012 | Paul Crittenden

We currently use McAfee’s Safeboot/Endpoint Encryption software to encrypt our users laptops. Our PC Hardware folks do not like McAfee, we did when it was not owned by McAfee but you know how that goes.

 

Anyway, I have been tasked when helping to find a possible replacement. What software package are you using to encrypt your users laptops. Or for that matter, if you are not, what is your rational.

 

Thanks,

 

Paul Crittenden

Computer System Manager

Simpson College

Indianola, IA

direct: 515-961-1680

www.simpson.edu

 

December 6, 2011 | Daniel Bennett
This has gone around a few times in the past but I am looking for fresh results. What is your stance on student passwords? Do you make them change their password every X number of days? Complexity rules? Etc. Thanks.
July 16, 2012 | Tarun Trivedi
Hello,
 
I recently passed the CISSP exam, I would appreciate a reply from current CISSP certificate holder who is in good standing with (ISC)2 and willing to be my endorser. Once/If I hear from you I will send required documentation directly to you.
 
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration,
 
 
 
 
Tarun Trivedi
 
IT Security Engineer
Waubonsee Community College
Route 47 at Waubonsee Drive
Sugar Grove, IL 60554
Ph#630-466-5744
 
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: This message, including any attachment(s), is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which...
May 17, 2012 | Dean J. Williams
A rash of Flashback infections has us thinking about malware protection for our Macintoshes.  Is anyone using a product that you’d recommend (or recommend against!)?   If you are supporting malware protection for your Macintoshes, is the impact on system performance acceptable?   Is it effective in preventing or at least detecting infections?  Are updates timely?  Is it affordable?  

Thanks for any experience or insight you can share.  

Dean Williams, GSLC     
Information Security Officer                             
Enterprise Technology Services      
University of Vermont
Dean.Williams@uvm.edu | 802-656-1174 
...
March 20, 2012 | Matt Marmet

Good day Everyone,

 

Here at Armstrong, we have a couple hundred hard drives that we have to physically disable/destroy. We also have about 200 hard drives per year that our desktop support staff recover from old machines that need to be destroyed as well. We have seen some of the hydraulic electric presses that are enclosed as well as manual presses that are made for this type of work. What are other institutions using to destroy HDDs securely and safely?

 

Regards,

 

Matt

 

---
Matt Marmet
Director of IT Security, CISO
Armstrong Atlantic State University
11935 Abercorn Street
Savannah, GA 31419
Desk: (912) 344-3528
Cell:...

November 29, 2011 | Kevin Halgren
Looking at the current discussion on DMCA notices, I was wondering how those of you using NAT handle associating a DMCA notice with a particular client system. This continues to be a challenge for us. Kevin
November 27, 2012 | Kevin Shalla

I’m trying to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of prohibiting administrator access for users of Windows computers.  Can you provide feedback on what I have below?  By the way, what’s an example of software that is generally prohibited?  Is BitTorrent an example?  Is it common?

 

Advantages

Most malware stays on one user profile, so other users on same machine are unaffected.  Deleting the profile can remove the malware. Prohibited (by policy) software doesn’t get installed.  Combinations of software known to be problematic are not installed (like multiple active versions of antivirus).

 

Disadvantages

User cannot install or update some software immediately – have to wait for desktop support.

...

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