The Flashback trojan is the first widespread piece of malware seen on Macs in many years. You would get the trojan by accepting a fake Adobe Flash update on a Mac that is not fully patched with Apple software updates. The trojan takes advantage of a security hole in Java. Faculty and Staff computers at Williams have Sophos Anti-virus installed. To check for any further malware, select the Sophos shield icon in your menu bar (near the time) and choose Scan Local Drives. Students can install Sophos from sophos.williams.edu. If you have concerns or questions you can contact the faculty staff support desk at desktop@williams.edu or the student support desk at stchelp@williams.edu

Example of today’s email:
“Attention:Faculty/Staff

Please be advise that new programs and updates have been recently added
to the College email system to prevent phishing and virus infected email
messages from users Mailboxes.Copy and paste the following link into your
browser to update your Campus Mailbox anti-virus:…”  (link removed)

For more information concerning phishing attempts go to:

http://oit.williams.edu/help-docs/security/scam-identification/

An example of one that was sent:

“Great News!
You can now login to your Williams College web mail and get the latest exciting information about hackers and spammers use the database link “http:xyz” (actual URL removed)  login for more information and also upgrade to your new web mail classic.”

The Center for Media Initiatives (CMI) in the new Stetson/Sawyer will be an animated new hub of creative activity run by about one quarter of the Office for Information Technology (OIT) staff. From their new home on the north side of campus OIT staff from both Desktop Systems and Instructional Technology will provide multiple levels of support from solving basic problems to complex multi-media production. We are very excited by this opportunity to provide better services in an attractive and convenient new facility, which is scheduled to open in fall 2014.