Monthly Archives: September 2015

Update Notifications

Microsoft Security Patches [September 8, 2015]

On September 8th, 2015, Microsoft released security patches for:

  • Windows 8.1, 8, 7, Vista RT, RT8.1
  • Windows servers 2012, 2008, 2003
  • Internet Explorer 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6
We strongly encourage you to apply these patches to your PC as soon as possible. For information about these updates please visit: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/security/ms15-sep.aspx

Click on the Windows logo located on the lower left hand corner of your computer screen, a menu will appear, click on “Control Panel”.
Once in the Control Panel, type the words “windows update” in the Search Control Panel field located in the upper right hand corner. As you do, the following screen will immediately appear.

Now, in the upper left handle corner, click the words “check for update”. This screen will appear

Click the “Check for updates” button to begin the checking. The following screen will appear after the checking is completed. All Important Updates must be installed. Click the “Install updates” button to begin the installation. You will need to reboot your computer to finish the installation later.

Alternatively, if you are using Internet Explorer you can click on Tools > and select Windows Update to install the latest security patches.
For questions please call the Service Desk at 617-287-5220 or via email at ITServiceDesk@umb.edu.
News

Phishing scams

Phishing scams that try to steal your username and password aren’t limited to email and bank accounts. Many UMass Boston users have been getting messages targeting their library accounts. (See example below.) The message pretends that the user’s library account is being deactivated and asks the user to click a link and enter their username and password to prevent deactivation. Needless to say, the link takes you to a hacker’s web site rather than UMB’s. Don’t do it!

Do not click on any link requesting your library account information and password. If in doubt, please call the Library Circulation Desk at (617) 287-5900 or email library.circulation@umb.edu.

Fort more information about phishing and security, please see the IT Department’s phishing awareness page:

https://www.umb.edu/it/getting_services/security/phishing

Or contact the IT Service Desk at (617) 287-5220 or email ITServiceDesk@umb.edu.

EXAMPLE PHISHING MESSAGE

 From: Library <library@umb.edu>

Date: August 22, 2015 at 12:05:52 PM EDT

To: <john.doe@umb.edu>

Subject: Library Account

Dear User,

Your library account has expired, therefore you must reactivate it immediately or it will be closed automatically. If you intend to use this service in the future, you must take action at once!

To reactivate your account, simply visit the following page and login with your library account.

 Login Page: https://login.ezproxy.lib.umb.edu/reactivation

(in the actual email, the link pointed to a hacker’s database rather than to a UMass Boston web page.)

Sincerely,

Healey Library – University of Massachusetts Boston