IAB Computer Resources

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IAB Computer Resources

• An Introduction for
• IAB Office Staff

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Overview

• Computer security
• Mercury
• IAB web site

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Computer Security

• The only truly secure computer is not connected
  to a network, and has no removable storage, such
  as
• A floppy disk drive
• USB ports for jump drives
• A Zip drive
• This is not an option, so security and
  functionality are always going to be a trade-off.

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Security Overview what can I do?

• Computer Security
• ALWAYS password protect ALL accounts on your
  computer with strong passwords.
• Keep Windows XP up to date.
• Install AntiVirus and keep it up to date.
• Install AntiSpyware and keep it up to date.
• Use a Software Firewall.
• Computer Hygiene
• Use Disk Cleaner program.
• Use Disk Defragmenter program.

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Accounts and Passwords

• Windows has a hidden Administrator account
• Check your Administrator account to see if it has
  a password. If it doesnt, call Jock to set it.
• Make sure that all other accounts have passwords.
• Use strong passwords!

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Accounts and Passwords 2

• Workstation PW Windows password used to log into
  your computer.
• Mercury PW used to log into Mercury.
• IAB Web Utilities PW used to log into IAB web
  edit pages, the Faculty Restricted page, or IAB
  User Utilities.
• UAF email PW maintained by OIT, must be changed
  every 4 months.
• Radius PW used to connect from off campus via
  VPN, must be changed every 4 months.

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Strong passwords

• Many viruses and worms use an internal dictionary
  lookup table.
• A strong password is one that cannot be guessed
• No words or names
• Include capitals, numbers and punctuation
• Examples
• F_at_1rB_at_nk not OK (for UAF email)
• Mrci7yo! (My rusty car is 7 years old!)
• PurpleLobster21 (2 unrelated words with a number
  and a symbol)

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Password Safe

• One of the problems with strong passwords is
  remembering them.
• Use Password Safe to store passwords in an
  encrypted database.
• Download from P\programs\ drive or
  http//passwordsafe.sourceforge.net
• Password Safe can also create strong passwords
  for you, if you wish.

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Password Safe screenshots
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Keep Windows up to date

• Use Automatic Update
• Desktop computers set to automatically install
• If you use this option, always save any work
  before leaving, as it will likely reboot your
  computer.
• Laptop computers set to Tell me when updates
  are available
• Use this option so that you dont shut off the
  computer in the middle of a download.
• If updates are available, please install them.

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Keep Mac OS X up to date

• There have been many more exploits for Macs in
  the recent past.
• Keeping your OS up to date will help protect your
  computer.
• Turn on Software Update in the System
  Preferences.
• I suggest running Symantec Antivirus as well.

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Malware Viruses and Worms

• Viruses are pieces of malicious software that
  require a user to do something in order to
  spread.
• Worms are pieces of malicious software that can
  spread on their own, without user intervention.
  These are more dangerous than viruses.
• Both types are used to make money for their
  writers by taking control of your computer.

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Malware Viruses and Worms 2

• Antivirus Protection
• Symantec Antivirus (SAV) Corporate Edition
• UAF has a site license, so it is free and
  supported.
• Version 10.1.4 is the latest you should have
  that version.
• Can be downloaded from www.uaf.edu/oit/ftp and
  installed over an older version.
• Install as Unmanaged and schedule updates.
• Never install more than one AV program they
  dont play well together.

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Malware Viruses and Worms 3

• Set Live Update to update daily
• File Schedule Updates
• Set update to Daily and the time to a time that
  the computer is likely to be turned on.
• Create a Scheduled Scan
• Scheduled Scans New Scheduled Scan
• Set it for a time that the computer will likely
  be turned on.
• I suggest either daily or weekly scheduled scans.

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Malware Spyware and Adware

• Spyware and Adware are basically the same thing
• They are programs that monitor what you do and
  report back to the mother ship.
• Some spyware is benign, others are truly
  malicious and can steal passwords, credit card
  numbers, social security numbers, etc.

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Malware Spyware and Adware 2 security programs

• AdAware manual spyware scanner
• Spybot Search and Destroy manual spyware scanner
  and protector.
• SpywareBlaster protects your browser from going
  to malicious web sites inadvertantly.
• SpywareGuard protects your registry from
  unwanted changes.
• Windows Defender automatic spyware scanner.
  Free, from Microsoft.

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Malware Spyware and Adware 3

• All anti-spyware programs should be updated
  regularly (e.g. weekly).
• Scanners should be run every time you update.

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Software Firewall

• A firewall blocks network traffic to and/or from
  your computer. Important to have installed.
• Windows Firewall
• Installed by default in XP Service Pack 2.
• Only blocks incoming, not outgoing
• Other options (also block outgoing)
• ZoneAlarm
• Sygate
• R-Firewall

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Computer Hygiene 1

• Disk Cleanup program
• Programs, installers and browsers leave many
  temporary files on your computer
• Disk Cleanup will delete most of them.
• Start All Programs Accessories System Tools
  Disk Cleanup.

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Computer Hygiene 2

• Disk Defragmenter program
• As Windows saves, copies, and deletes files, your
  hard drive becomes fragmented files are split
  into many chunks.
• Defrag will re-assemble them into a single chunk.
• Start All Programs Accessories System Tools
  Disk Defragmenter.

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Computer Maintenance Folder

• I create a folder on the desktop called Computer
  Maintenance on new computers.
• Shortcuts to all the Security and Hygiene
  programs.
• Reserve 30 minutes per week to update and run
  each manual program.
• If you want this on your computer, call me.

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Questions on Computer Hygiene?
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Mercury Overview

• Mercury runs on the Novell Netware operating
  system (rather than Windows or Mac OSX).
• What does it do? Mercury is the IAB/BW server
• File server (most important to you!)
• Web server
• FTP server
• Application server

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The Novell Login Screen 1
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The Novell Login Screen 2
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The Novell Login Screen 3
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After you log in

• When you log in to Mercury, you will see a couple
  of windows pop up.
• The first window shows the results of your login
  script. If it closes on its own, there were no
  errors. Call Jock if there were errors.
• The second window is the Novell Application
  Launcher. This can be closed if you dont need
  any of the apps in that window.

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Login Script Results
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Novell Application Launcher
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Mercury Functions for IAB Staff

• Networked Drives when you log onto Mercury, you
  will see a number of network drives under My
  Computer. These are directories on Mercury.
• M\ is your personal space
• Store individual or non-shared stuff on your M\
  drive.
• P\ is a public drive, accessible to anyone with
  a Mercury account
• Shared Folders will show up as mapped drives,
  depending on your group (e.g. Directors Office,
  Business Office, Faculty).
• Store most of your work here, as Mercury is
  backed up weekly.
• Others have access to all of the Shared Folders.

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Mercury Networked Drives
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Mercury Shared Folders 1

• Be careful when using the Shared Folders
• If you drag and drop a file into the wrong
  folder, it may appear lost. Use Search to find
  it.
• If you rename or move a file or folder, another
  user that needs access may not be able to find
  it.
• Any changes to the file and folder structure may
  break another users ability to connect.
• The shared folders are used by many staff
  members, so please think before making changes.

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Mercury Shared Folders 2

• We have a lot of flexibility on Mercury to
• Give access to only certain folders
• Mount individual folders as networked drives
• Huh?
• This means that if a staff member only needs
  access to one subfolder, we can set it up so that
  is the only folder he or she sees.
• For example, DNA Core Lab staff may only need
  access to their folder, not the whole Shared
  Folder.

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Shared Folders
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Mercury Personal Web Sites

• Anyone with a Mercury account can have a personal
  web site.
• Create a folder called public.www on your M\
  drive.
• Anything in this folder is automatically posted
  to the web.
• The URL is www.iab.uaf.edu/firstname_lastname.
• Detailed instructions are at http//www.iab.uaf.ed
  u/comp/instructions.html

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Mercury salvage deleted files

• Right-click on the red N in your system tray.
• Choose Netware utilities, then Salvage
• UAF_MERCURY
• USER
• Users
• firstname_lastname (your user account)
• Find the deleted file and select Salvage
• Files are periodically purged, so do this as soon
  as you can.

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Mercury salvage deleted files
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Mercury Disk Full and User limits

• You may get an error message saying that the disk
  is full when you try to save a file.
• This does not mean that disk is full, but that
  you have filled up your Mercury disk quota.
• Please first delete unneeded files and folders.
• Call Jock to increase your quota size, if needed.

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Questions about Mercury?
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The IAB Web Site

• Database driven
• Maintained by Jock Irons, and Marie Gilbert
• Please, please, please send us updates regularly!
• New or leaving staff, updated office or phone
  numbers Marta, Chandra
• New or graduated students Carol, Jobie, Shannon
• Seminars, social events, etc. Faculty host, LSS
  coordinator, etc.

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The IAB Web Site contents

• About IAB
• Administration
• Computer Resources
• Events and Seminars
• Facilities
• Faculty, Staff and Student directory
• Human Resources
• News and Fact Sheets
• Programs and Initiatives
• Publications
• User Utilities

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Administration Pages

• Many useful pages under this link
• IAB Contact information
• Forms
• Mail/Shipping
• Safety courses, contacts and forms
• Travel information and forms
• Vehicle info and reservations

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Computer Resources page

• Getting started (e.g. for new faculty, staff)
• Safe Computing
• Faculty, Staff and Student links
• How-tos and FAQs
• Report computer problems

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Faculty, Staff, Student Directory

• All IAB, BW, AKCFWRU personnel should be in this
  database.
• Can search by category, first or last name, email
  address, or phone number.
• Please help us keep this database up to date if
  your personal information changes.
• Send email to fyiab_at_uaf.edu

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Faculty, Staff, Student Directory
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Human Resources page

• Currently open IAB jobs are posted here.
• HR-related forms are posted here (also posted on
  the Forms page under Administration).
• Maintained by Marta and Chandra.

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User Utilities and Restricted Pages

• Password protected
• NOT the same password as Mercury, unless you set
  it that way (recommended).
• Change Password utility
• Send group email
• Generate phone lists

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Login to User Utilities
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User Utilities
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User Utilities 2