All Stories | Information Technology Services

Staff to extend support for IT systems during holiday break

Dec 20th, 2018

Information Technology Services staff will extend support into the upcoming holiday break, continuing to monitor enterprise systems remotely through the entire break and adding part-time shifts to address any priority concerns.

Dec. 27, 28, and 31, select staff from Operations and the Service Desk will attend to physically monitor systems and resolve any priority items. Full service will resume on Jan. 2.

“With so many new systems coming online recently, IT Services felt it was necessary to provided additional support to faculty and staff who may need to work with the system during the holiday break,” says assistant director Marcin Pulcer.

He reminds clients that the best way to receive service during the break is to log a service request or problem on www.uwindsor.ca/itshelp.

Extended Support for IT Systems During Holiday Break

Dec 19th, 2018

Information Technology Services staff will be extending support into the upcoming holiday break.
If you experience any issues during the break, please log a service request at uwindsor.ca/itshelp.

Holiday Support Periods

December 24 – January 1
Remote monitoring of all systems

December 27
Part-time hours: Operations and Service Desk

December 28
Part-time hours: Service Desk

December 31
Part-time hours: Operations

IT Services issues warning of fraudulent emails to UWindsor faculty and staff

Dec 17th, 2018

graphic warning Phishing: Don't take the bait

A wave of fraudulent email messages have been arriving in campus mailboxes recently, warns Information Technology Services.

These fraudulent messages are phishing attempts and have been made to appear to originate from University executives, deans and department heads, but are actually from off-campus individuals requesting gift card codes or other financial transactions.

In the event that you receive an email from a colleague or administrator asking for gift cards, combinations, keys, or other suspicious information, IT Services recommends you immediately:

Verify that the sender is genuine by sending a new email message to the requestor’s proper UWindsor e-mail address. Do not use the reply button, as this action will send a reply to the scammer. As an alternative means, you can also confirm the request in person or via phone or text.
If the message is not genuine, report it to the IT Service Desk or forward the message to spam@uwindsor.ca.

Given the increased frequency of these phishing attempts, it is important for campus users to maintain continued cyber awareness and vigilance to ensure protection of University assets. IT Services encourages you to watch this video on how to avoid taking the bait.

Direct any questions or concerns regarding these phishing e-mails to the IT Service Desk at 519-253-3000, ext 4440.

Session to offer training in UWindsor website management system

Nov 29th, 2018

laptop computer displaying Drupal

A free class Tuesday, Dec. 11, will help staff and faculty responsible for maintaining UWindsor websites learn the basics of the Drupal content management system.

Website Basic Training will focus on teaching site editors how to create pages and events, upload graphics and use menus and blocks, says instructor Rob Aitkens, web development team lead in Information Technology Services.

The class is required for all employees responsible for maintaining UWindsor websites and is valuable for those with little previous experience with the system, for those upgrading their sites from version 6 to 7, or as a refresher. It will run 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the University Computer Centre’s lower-level classroom. Registration is required through this online form.

IT Services hoping to raise awareness of cybersecurity issues

Oct 31st, 2018

Online safety and security is a responsibility we all share, warns Information Technology Services, and being informed about the ways attackers get access to information is a great first step in protecting yourself and others.

The department notes that October is “Cyber Security Awareness Month” and is taking the opportunity to open communication concerning security issues for the campus.

“Through social engineering techniques, attackers manipulate people into doing what they want,” says network and systems specialist Randy Laframboise. “The rise and dependency on technology today makes transgression considerably easier than ever before, and makes it low-risk for cybercriminals.”

He says that the education sector has seen a rise in these attacks, with “phishing” scams contributing to 40 per cent or more of reported breaches.

“The reality is that these attacks can be nuanced, and some things just don’t jump out at you,” he says. “Cybercrime is not always about compromising a desktop computer or a server, but coercing people to giving something an attacker can use.”

IT Services argues that campus safety and security are best served when everyone is informed and engaged, and promises a follow-up article explaining why universities are a favourite target of cybercriminals.