February 22nd, 2002 by Dana Roode
NACS has taken several measures against the new “MyParty” Internet worm, unleashed recently.
The “MyParty” worm arrives in your Inbox disguised as an email message, bearing the subject line “new photos from my party!”. This worm targets popular Outlook and Outlook Express email programs running on the Windows operating system. The message contains a file attachment disguised as a web site URL, “www.myparty.yahoo.com” If, expecting a web site, you click on this file attachment, a program is installed on your computer which lets the worm’s author gain control of your computer over the network. It also sends email to the author, and propagates copies of itself to everyone in your email Address Book.
NACS has instituted defenses against MyParty both on the campus mail routing servers (MTAs), and on the EA and E4E systems which faculty, staff, and students use to read electronic mail.
In the first week since MyParty’s release, over 8000 copies of the worm were blocked on EA and E4E and almost 29000 further copies were blocked at the campus (”@uci.edu”) e-mail gateways.
Information on MyParty and other recent viruses may be reviewed atÂ
http://www.nacs.uci.edu/security/virus.html
February 22nd, 2002 by Dana Roode
The Electronic Educational Environment (EEE) is a collaboration among the UCI Libraries, the Division of Undergraduate Education, the Registrar, and Network & Academic Computing Services (NACS).
The group within NACS which participates in EEE has changed its name to Instructional Web Technologies (IWT). This change will more accurately reflect IWT’s mission of supporting the instructional use of technology, as one component of EEE.
The IWT group is managed by Shohreh Bozorgmehri. Staff members Eric Carter and Briandy Walden provide direct support to faculty and instructors who use technology for their courses. In addition, they maintain and develop the EEE website (http://eee.uci.edu/), serving all UCI instructors and students. David Pritikin is responsible for instructional technology training and client support.
February 22nd, 2002 by Dana Roode
IWT added a new tool for Winter 2002 to the many resources available on the EEE website. The new “Evaluations” tool, developed in cooperation with the Division of Undergraduate Education, allows instructors to gain valuable and immediate feedback from students regarding in-class instruction. The use of web-based forms and real-time data analysis gives instructors the opportunity to address student concerns while a class is still meeting. The Evaluations tool is available in the Instructor’s Toolbox.
February 22nd, 2002 by Dana Roode
NACS would like the campus to beware an unnecessary telephone cost you may incur.
There are companies which buy up large numbers of toll-free phone numbers which are very close to other, popular companies’ toll-free numbers (such as Federal Express.)
When you misdial, you may get connected to this kind of outfit. That company may offer to forward your call to the intended number, and may charge a fee for that.
With anything less than perfect attention and patience, you may hear the invitation to be transferred, and not hear the notification of the transfer fee. Some departments are finding themselves billed $3 per misdialed call.
Here is an example message. You can see how easy it is to unwittingly authorize a charge.
“Hello. If you are trying to reach Federal Express, you have misdialed and will be given the opportunity to receive the correct number by pressing one now or any time during this message. Our patent-pending process will provide you with the number for two dollars and ninety-nine cents which will be billed to your local telephone bill as ‘call connect.’ Rotary callers may stay on the line to be connected, or at any time during this message, you may hang up and check the number with directory assistance. Please hold or press one now … ”
NACS is publicizing this perfectly legal “service” in hopes of increasing awareness and saving the University money