IT-Digest: Vol. 7
November 15, 2005
This e-newsletter is intended to inform the USM community about technology related issues, events, updates and news.
In This Issue
- Important USM Email Announcement
- Symantec Antivirus Protection is Free for USM Users
- Empty Messages in GroupWise
- New Version of GroupWise
- Maintaining Confidentiality When Mailing to a List of People
- "Phishing" Warnings!
- BlackBoard and WebCT Merger
- Microsoft Access 2003 Security Warnings
Compiled by Ann Brushwein, Software Support Specialist, IT User Services
1. Important USM Email Announcement
Starting soon, Human Resources will periodically be sending important information impacting all employees only via e mail. This is a synchronization with the policy the University of Maine System has been following since the implementation of PeopleSoft. To insure that you are able to receive these communications, you must have activated your PeopleSoft account — if you normally input your time and/or leave you have done this. You also should make sure you are receiving your email at your primary email account. If you are unsure how to do either of these, see the Account Activation and Email Forwarding page for assistance.
2. Symantec Antivirus Protection is Free for USM Users
USM users may load Symantect Antivirus on one home machine at no charge. Go to USM's Symantec Antivirus Download page and follow the instructions to download and install the antivirus software. You should uninstall any existing virus software before going to this site.
3. Empty Messages in GroupWise
If you receive an "empty" message in GroupWise mail, try going to the View menu and selecting HTML.
4. New Version of GroupWise
Beginning on November 14, 2005, GroupWise users are being upgraded to version 7.0. Most will be updated when you login on November 16th and the installation will take a few minutes. If you choose to cancel the installation, it will re-attempt to install the next time you login. This version of the GroupWise client has significant improvements in usability, and many new features. This announcement only applies to Windows 2000 and XP users. Macintosh OSX users and Web Access users will have a separate update in the near future. After the new version is installed, go to GroupWise's Help menu and choose What's New.
5. Maintaining Confidentiality When Mailing to a List of People
If you send messages to a group of people and would like to maintain the confidentiality of those individuals' addresses, send the message to yourself as the first "To" address then add the others in the BC address field. Your recipients will see your address but not see everyone else's. This is something that works in any e mail program. For more GroupWise info, see the GroupWise @ USM site.
6. "Phishing" Warnings!
Many USM email users have recently been getting false requests from "Bangor Savings Bank" requesting account information. Be very wary about these "phishing" requests. It is usually an attempt to trick the user into replying to them with confidential information so that they can use it to commit crimes later. An interesting "phishing" identification quiz can be taken online at the MailFrontier web site. See how well you do!
7. BlackBoard and WebCT Merger
Recently, two major course management systems announced plans for their merger. USM currently uses both systems, with BlackBoard being used in a majority of classes, and WebCT used in a few departments. The plan is for BlackBoard to incorporate the best features of WebCT into BlackBoard. The timeframe for software changes is unclear at this time. For more information, visit the Blackboard web site.
8. Microsoft Access 2003 Security Warnings
The default install of MS Access 2003 has several security warnings when you open Access database files. These warnings can be safely eliminated by setting the Access Macro Security level to "low". This will not open any vulnerabilities as long as you have current antivirus software on your machine. To change the Macro security level, open Access with no file open (program only) and choose Tools > Macro > Security. Select the setting for Low and click OK. This will stop the security warnings.
If you have any questions or IT problems, please contact the USM HelpDesk at 780-4029 or email helpdesk@usm.maine.edu.
Have questions that you'd like to see addressed in IT Digest? Let the HelpDesk know: 780-4029 or helpdesk@usm.maine.edu.
