C O M P U T I N G N E

U n i v e r s i t y o f O r e g o n C O M P U T I N G N E W S FALL 2003 Get your free copy of Duckware 2003 for Mac or PC! The discs are distributed at numerous campus locations. New this year is a special supplementary Windows Security CD for Windows users. See stories on pp. 2, 17. IN THIS ISSUE… Security Welcome to Campus! What You Need to Know about the New Windows Security CD...................................................................... 17 Free Duckware 2003 and Windows Security CDs.............2 Simple Passwords Expose Your PC to ‘Backdoor’ Attack.. 13 How to Start Using Your UO Computing Account............3 Update to Avoid Axis Network Camera Vulnerabilities .. 13 Get Acquainted with UO Computing Resources: A Guide to Protecting System Integrity ............................ 14 Consulting Help, Campus Computing Labs ....................4 Security Alerts ................................................................... 18 Computing Center Electronics Shop Services...................6 Technology Updates Computing Center Documents Room Resources...............7 Information Technology Workshops..................................7 UO Prepares for Increasing Wireless Use on Campus...... 11 Large Timesharing Systems................................................8 UO Libraries’ Tech Services Continue to Grow................ 12 Blackboard Upgrade Introduced this Fall......................... 12 UO Web Email.....................................................................9 Mathematica 5.0 is Here .................................................................23 Administrative Computing Update: Web-Based Banner.........10 Selected Elements of the 2003 University Home Page A Broad Overview of Statisical Computing at the UO....20 Study................................................................................ 25 Email Interesting Sites Prepare to Move from Oregon to Darkwing.....................10 Sites Worth Seeing............................................................. 23 Non-Delivery Notices for Mail You Didn’t Send.............22 Industry News.................................................................... 26 Get Your Free Duckware 2003—and WindowsWindows Security!—CDs The latest edition of Duckware has just what you need for computing at the UO. For Windows users, a special supplemental security CD is part of the deal this year. and is free to all currently enrolled • Microcomputer Support Center students, faculty, and staff. (151 McKenzie Hall) Both versions contain step-by-step • Documents Room Library (175 AsAs itit hhasas eeveryvery ffallall fforor tthehe ppastast McKenzie Hall) seven years, the Computing Center’s instructions on how to use the Microcomputer Services group university’s modem pool, wireless • CC-McKenzie Lab (101 has released a new edition of the network, and VPN connections. McKenzie Hall) Duckware CD-ROM. Windows Users. This year’s Windows • CC-EMU Microcomputing Lab (22 EMU) Duckware 2003, a collection of the edition includes Norton AntiVirus latest antiviral, network, and word- 2003, OpenOffi ce 1.1 for Windows, • CC-Klamath Lab (B13 Klamath processing software designed to help Internet Explorer 6, Netscape 7, Hall) Mozilla 1.4, and more. you with computing at the UO, is • CC-Millrace Lab (113 Millrace I) available in both Mac and PC versions New! Windows Security CD: UO • Knight Library Information Windows users will also need to Technology Center (second fl oor) pick up a copy of the new Windows Security CD, which contains vital • Science Library Information antiviral updates and system patches Technology Center (lower level, specifi c to Windows machines. Be Onyx Bridge Building) sure to run this CD before you COMPUTING CENTER Campus housing distribution. connect to the campus network!! Students living in campus housing COMPUTING NEWS Mac Users. The Mac Duckware CD can get Duckware at Residence Hall VOL. 18 #4 contains Norton AntiVirus 9, Fugu 1.0, and Family Housing area desks in the Mozilla, Internet Explorer, Netscape, University Inn, Carson, Spencer View Computing News is pub lished quar ter ly by and an updated and improved VPN and Westmoreland. the User Services and Network Applications client, among other offerings. staff of the Computing Center. Reuse and Recycling © University of Oregon 2003 Because the Mac operating system If you decide you no longer want Contact: Joyce Winslow is immune to the Blaster worm and your copy of Duckware 2003, please [email protected] other viruses that target Microsoft don’t throw it away! We’ll gladly take Photography: Dave Ragsdale products, Mac users do not need a it back and give it to someone else. [email protected] supplemental security CD. Just drop it off at the Microcomputer Joe St Sauver, Ph.D. System Requirements Support Center, or mail it via campus Director, User Services mail to “Microcomputer Services, 151 PC users: To use Duckware 2003 for and Network Applications McKenzie Hall.” [email protected] Windows, you’ll need Windows 98, ME, 2000, or XP. Website: Help http://cc.uoregon.edu/cnews/ Mac users: The Macintosh version For additional Duckware help Telephone: (541) 346-1724 is compatible with Mac OS 9 and or information, contact the Mac OS X. Microcomputer Support Center at [email protected] or Got Extras? Where to Get Your CDs call 346-4412. If your campus de part ment Campus locations. Students, faculty, re ceives sur plus copies of Com put ing News, you and staff may pick up a copy of the You can also drop by 151 McKenzie may return them to the Duckware 2003 CD and Windows Hall weekdays from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., UO Com put ing Cen ter for Security CD at the following campus or visit their website at re dis tri bu tion. locations: http://micro.uoregon.edu/ computing news fall 2003 computing news fall 2003 2 NEW USER SECTION NEW USER SECTION 3 Welcome to Campus! How to Start Using Your UO Computing Account When you register for classes, we automatically generate a computing account for you that consists of a username Note: Your modem access is for casual use—no more than and password. Your com put ing account provides both a few hours a day on average. If you need ded i cat ed or email and dialin access. near-ded i cat ed network ac cess, you’ll want to con tact a com mer cial Internet Ser vice Pro vid er. You should also (If for some reason you don’t have a UO computing be aware that we have recently installed security fi lters account, pick up a copy of the handout, “How to Get that inhibit the use of Microsoft networking from dialup a Computing Account,” available in the Documents modems. If you really need to use Microsoft networking, Room Library (175 McKenzie Hall), or online at the workaround is to install and run the VPN software http://cc.uoregon.edu/policy/get_account.html) included on Duckware. How Do I Start Using Email? High-speed DSL or cable modem connections. If you There are three ways to get your email information: have an account with a commercial Internet Service • via DuckWeb ( http://duckweb.uoregon.edu/ ) Provider, you may want to log in to your UO account • in person, by going to the Microcomputer Support using the UO’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) software. Center (151 McKenzie Hall) and presenting your VPN allows you to securely access resources normally photo I.D. restricted to on-campus use—such as the UO’s software • by accessing the AUTHORIZE program from your web distribution sites, UO Usenet News servers, or restricted browser ( https://password.uoregon.edu/authorize/ ) library databases. If you do not use VPN, for security purposes we recommend using end-to-end encryption What About Passwords? tools (such as the SSL included in your web browser, or We recommend you select your own password instead of SSH for shell and fi le transfer). using the one that’s generated for you when you register For a good overview of VPN, see Microcomputer for classes. Here’s how: Services’ general information page at 1. Open your network browser (e.g., Netscape, Internet http://micro.uoregon.edu/getconnected/vpn_overview.html Explorer) and go to https://password.uoregon.edu/ Instructions for connecting to VPN are available at 2. If you remember your old pass word, enter your http://micro.uoregon.edu/getconnected/ username and old password in the spaces provided. Type in your new password and en ter it again for What About Wireless? verifi cation. You can also access UOnet throughout several public 3. If you don’t know your old pass word, you’ll need areas on campus via an 802.11a or 802.11b card in your to know your student ID number and PAC code. Go laptop computer. Your device must have appropriate to https://password.uoregon.edu/authorize/ Enter your drivers for your wireless card and a web browser that student ID and PAC code in the spaces provided, and supports SSL encryption. To connect to UOnet, you will follow the in struc tions for creating a new pass word. need to authenticate with your Darkwing or Gladstone account username and password. Password security: Passwords should be 6 to 14 characters long and must be very secure. We Security Note: Wireless users are especially vulnerable recommend choosing a password that includes a to electronic eavesdroppers. If you’re using a wireless mixture of mixed-case letters and numbers. Dictionary device and an application that lacks end-to-end words and any part of your name are not allowed. For encryption, you may wish to use the VPN software for more detailed information on password policy, see added protection. http://cc.uoregon.edu/policy/passwd_policy.html For more in for ma tion on campus wireless and current What About Off-Campus Connections? areas of coverage, including detailed set-up instructions, see http://micro.uoregon.edu/wireless/ Your computing account username and password are the same ones you’ll use for accessing UOnet from off-campus, What About Campus Housing whether you’re dialing in with a traditional modem or Connections? connecting via the UO’s VPN service through commercial DSL or cable modem service.

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