Announcements

Fix for Google Doc scam

Good news.  Google has been cleaning up compromised accounts by revoking the privileges of the fake doc that was sent around earlier today. So if you fell for the Google doc scam (meaning you tried to open the doc and then clicked ALLOW) then you are likely ok now.  To… Continue reading »

Update on Google docs scam issue

Good news.  Google has been cleaning up compromised accounts by revoking the privileges of the fake doc that was sent around earlier today. So if you fell for the Google doc scam (meaning you tried to open the doc and then clicked ALLOW) then you are likely ok now.  To… Continue reading »

April EDUCAUSE security post: Protect your identity!

According to the US Department of Justice, more than 17 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2014. EDUCAUSE research shows 21% of college students have had an online account hacked, and 14% have had a computer, tablet, or smartphone stolen. The following tips can help you prevent identity… Continue reading »

Improvements coming soon to your Google login page!

Starting April 10th, 2017, Google will slowly roll out a new login page, making the sign-in consistent across computers, phones and tablets. The rollout will start with a small set of users on April 10 and ramp up slowly over the course of several weeks. See Google’s blog regarding these… Continue reading »

911 Extension Location Verification

OIT is requesting all faculty and staff to fill out a form to help verify the information in our 911 system.  If you are not logged into Gmail through a browser, you will be asked to login to complete the form.  This is a legitimate request and you should login… Continue reading »

Security Post: Technology tips when travelling

Spring break is a common time to travel. Bringing your smartphone or laptop carries some risks. These devices store a lot of information – email, contacts, photos, videos and other personal and financial data – about ourselves and our friends and family. Following are some tips to reduce your risk. Continue reading »

February Security Post: Refuse the phishing bait

Data breaches and identity theft rarely involve hackers rappelling from a ceiling’s skylight, deftly avoiding laser detection systems to infiltrate computers and servers; often they simply fool a community member with a generic mass produced phishing email.   Phishing isn’t relegated to just e-mail! Cybercriminals will also launch phishing attacks… Continue reading »

Glow course management system down

Due to problems with Amazon’s Web Services the College Glow site is currently down. From Instructure’s status page: http://status.instructure.com/ Update – Amazon Web Services is currently experiencing what appears to be a large-scale networking issue that has impacted Instructure along with many other companies. We are working with Amazon… Continue reading »

Google Calendar features help identify when others are available

Google Calendar features help identify when others are available Google Calendar has two powerful features to help you identify when your colleagues are available when scheduling a meeting with them. More info here: https://gsuitetips.com/tips/calendar/find-a-time-in-google-calendar/ These features require that you have access to your attendees calendars, typically these will… Continue reading »

Peoplesoft Student Records System Upgrade

The Peoplesoft Student Records System was upgraded over the weekend of 2/17 through 2/19. Any browser favorites or bookmarks you have to the system may not work beginning on Monday, 2/20. To connect to the Peoplesoft Student Records system, enter: https://sarah.williams.edu in your browser (clear the cache if you… Continue reading »

Be on alert for tax scam emails and phone calls

During tax season you are likely to receive fake scam emails which appear to be from the IRS regarding returns, e-files, W2s and 1099s. Keep in mind the IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. You may… Continue reading »

January Security Post: Keep What’s Private, Private

You exist in digital form all over the Internet. Guard your privacy, not just to avoid embarrassment but also to protect your reputation and finances. Following are specific steps you can take to protect your online information, identity, and privacy. Turn on 2-step verification: https://oit.williams.edu/help-docs/2-factor-authentication/ A second authentication protects… Continue reading »

Displaying Announcements at the Top of the Home Page

If a course has a content page set as the course home page, instructors can display a certain number of recent announcements at the top of the page. This change allows instructors to show announcements as part of the course home page when students view GLOW in a web browser. Continue reading »

[Resolved] Service Disruption for Google Drive

Starting at about 11:40am on 1/17 we started seeing problems in accessing Google Drive. From Google: We’re investigating reports of an issue with Google Drive. We will provide more information shortly. Users may be receiving errors when accessing Drive. Classroom users may also be receiving errors when submitting or… Continue reading »

Allow file upload in your Google Forms submissions!

Allow file upload in your Google Forms submissions! You can now include a file upload button in your Google Form, so that your respondents can easily add documents to their form submission. More info can be found here:  https://sites.google.com/site/scriptsexamples/home/announcements/google-forms-file-upload-feature Whether you are a teacher who wants to collect students’… Continue reading »

December security post: Managing your online reputation

Social media sites help you stay connected both personally and professionally, but the information you share can provide fodder for phishing attacks, identity theft, or allow people to make negative assumptions about you. Please check a sites privacy and security settings to manage your online public presence.   The most… Continue reading »

Subject: Help Desk!! … another scam

A busy week for scammers… a 3rd wave of phishing attempts this week is hitting our Inboxes today… The body of the email: “Due to the recent spam attack on our database, you are advise to update your mailbox, please click here to avoid your account being suspended”. along with a link… Continue reading »

Newest phishing attempt: Subject: building trust

We are receiving numerous reports of a new phishing attempt that looks like a PDF being shared through Google Drive. It has the Subject Line: building trust. Please delete it. For more information about phishing emails check out: Phishing Emails If you did reply to… Continue reading »