Security

Identity theft isn’t new, it’s been around since the 1800s. Anytime personal information is stolen and used to commit fraud, it is ID theft. The modern era has amplified the ability to commit this type of crime, and now we see frequent attempts to do this, especially during a crisis. Continue reading »

Happy Halloween, but beware the year-round trick-or-treaters! You may have a bowl of candy prepared for the ghosts and goblins to arrive soon, but are you prepared for the hackers too? They’re already at your doorstep and they have all they need to give you a good fright! Want to… Continue reading »

Shields Up! If last week’s update on current threats had you worried, this week we’ll explore what you can do about them using the FBI’s #1 Cyber Safety Tip: Keep software systems up to date and use a good anti-virus program This single tip has two main parts, one… Continue reading »

Threat Alert While the season for spooking is almost upon us, I don’t mean to scare you when I say we’re under attack, but that’s also not an exaggeration. Attacks are on the rise, specifically in Higher Education, where “The average number of weekly attacks per organization in the academic… Continue reading »

The NCSA, CISA and Williams College invite you to participate in Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2020 this October as we encourage all users to own their role in protecting connected devices. Do your part. #BeCyberSmart this October. More: https://staysafeonline.org/cybersecurity-awareness-month/ If you connect it, protect it. The line between our online… Continue reading »

Amid the ongoing events and our recently remote arrangements, you may find yourself in a different location or using a home computer for your work duties. OIT has the following three tips for using your own personal hardware to do your work. Following this advice will better protect you, your… Continue reading »

Cybersecurity Tips For Travelers Before You Go Update your mobile software. Treat your mobile device like your home or work computer. Keep your operating system software and apps updated, which will improve your device’s ability to defend against malware. Back up your information. Back up your contacts, photos, videos and other mobile… Continue reading »

Williams College continues to move towards full 2-step protection.  All Students and Staff are fully signed up and Faculty are at 75% and rising. A special shout out to: American Studies, Classics, Latina/o Studies, Physics, Philosophy, and Women Gender and Sexuality Studies for being the first academic departments to fully… Continue reading »

Shopping Safely Online Why do online shoppers have to take special precautions? The internet offers convenience not available from other shopping outlets. You can search for items from multiple vendors, compare prices with a few mouse clicks, and make purchases from your home. However, the internet is also convenient for attackers,… Continue reading »

The attached PDF will cover simple steps to take before you go and during the trip.  Please contact OIT at [email protected] for any questions or for help. Protect before you connect Backup your data Be up to date on patches Keep devices locked (physically and electronically) Use 2-step for devices… Continue reading »

Held every October, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) is a collaborative effort between government and education to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and to ensure that all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online. The theme “Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT.”… Continue reading »

Please be aware of these active threats, and remember if you come across anything that seems suspicious to you please let OIT know by emailing [email protected] or calling 413-597-4090.  The sooner we know about active events the sooner we can mitigate the risk to you and the campus. IRS… Continue reading »

“Are you free at the moment? Let me know ASAP.” This is the kind of email that may get your attention, especially if it’s from someone higher up in your organization. But be on guard – it’s an email scam.   Williams and other colleges and universities have been receiving these… Continue reading »

To prepare for the upcoming semester and keep our wireless network secure, OIT updated our campus security certificates today. Some devices (Apple laptops, phones and tablets in particular) may prompt you to trust or accept a new certificate for Purple Air or for Eduroam.  Please do so.  In rare cases… Continue reading »

Operating systems like Windows and Mac OS update themselves often.  Programs like Firefox and Chrome do it even more frequently.  However it is important to check occasionally to verify your automatic updates are working properly.  This link shows how to check whether your computer is pending updates: https://oit.williams.edu/announcements/security/os-updates/ Security… Continue reading »

Bring out your dead (tech) – OIT computer recycling project is back May 29-30-31 Computer Recycling (Greenup) Program PLEASE do not put your computer equipment in the trash. For one, it’s not green. Two, it’s not safe – someone could grab your computer, boot it up and read… Continue reading »

The Office for Information Technology at Williams provides protection for many digital concerns, from anti-virus to backup to disk and device encryption, but there are still many things we all do either at home or at work which require attention. For your own digital protection take these steps:  First, take… Continue reading »

A persistent email threat is hitting us and other schools, the “gift card” scam. The hook is the email appears to come from a Williams department head, chair, or even the president, but it is really from a scammer using an external account. They have subjects along… Continue reading »

Data Privacy Day (DPD) is an annual international event held each year on January 28th to promote awareness about the many ways personal information is collected, stored, used, and shared. It is also an opportunity to provide education about privacy practices that will enable individuals… Continue reading »

Be on alert for tax scam emails and phone calls during tax season.  You may also get scam emails purporting to have tax forms from your bank or even Williams. Recent scams have tried to fool people into logging into a fake Peoplesoft site. If you want to view any… Continue reading »

In 2016, for the first time ever, shoppers bought more online than in stores.   It’s very convenient, but keep in mind all Internet-connected devices are vulnerable, especially when being used for purchases. The holiday season is the perfect time for… Continue reading »

Dear Williams Community, Many, many Williams people have been receiving fake emails regarding “hacked” accounts. Typically the two ways they will throw you off guard is to either display an old password in the email, or to send the message as you (with your email as the From address).  Rest… Continue reading »

You need 2-step to be secure. Over 1550 Ephs and over 20 administrative departments are protected by 2-step! We need you to join the herd. Think it’s not important? Read on to see how lack of 2-step has dramatically impacted companies like JP Morgan, groups like the DNC and many… Continue reading »

Fake job emails sent to college students are fairly common. They often put you off guard since they can mention the town or the school you are in currently. There are several simple ways to avoid being scammed. How can you spot these scams? It’s very unlikely you will get… Continue reading »

Note: As of September 17th, 2018, access to the HR system from outside the Williams network will require logging in first with your Williams username (e.g. abc2) and password, before logging into the Human Resources System with your user id (e.g. W1234567). For more information see this link. Continue reading »