Author: Ciesa Design

IT Services is warning computer users about a particularly vicious kind of malware, called CryptoLocker.

CryptoLocker encrypts or freezes large parts of a Windows PC’s hard drive, then asks the user to pay to regain access.

Once CryptoLocker installs itself, it contacts a remotely operated server run by criminals, called a command-and-control server. Read Full Article →

IT Services launched a “sandbox” of the newest version of Desire2Learn (D2L) at next.d2l.msu.edu for immediate play and experimentation before the full upgrade in December.

This sandbox is only for trying out and previewing, not for live teaching. All content remaining in the sandbox will be lost in the next upgrade. Read Full Article →

Michigan State University obtained a license for faculty and instructors to use the Eli Review online peer review platform at no cost to them or students beginning with a fall 2013 semester pilot and running through the next two academic years.

Eli Review allows instructors to create peer-review opportunities that help students learn how to become better writers through a write, review, and revise process. Read Full Article →

The Michigan State University Police Department is investigating an attempted theft of employee direct-deposit payroll earnings.

On Friday, October 18, two employees reported receiving email confirmation of a change in their direct-deposit designation.

Police say that valid credentials (MSU NetID and password) were used by a perpetrator to modify the employees’ banking information on the EBS HR/Payroll (SAP) system. Read Full Article →

IT Services shared further details with the IT community about the network outage on September 25 at the IT Exchange meeting on October 10.

The September 25 network outage started just before 1:00 p.m. in the Biomedical and Physical Sciences (BPS) building where traffic containing millions of MAC addresses originated.

This traffic at BPS was processed by the Tier 1 network switches using a significant amount of memory. Read Full Article →

On October 1, 2013 the MSU Computer Store changed its hours of operation to 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. The expansion is the result of feedback and comments received from the campus community during a recent survey.

Located in room 110 Computer Center, 450 Auditorium Road, the MSU Computer Store has many items in stock and ready for pick-up or delivery. Read Full Article →

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

Michigan State University has an ongoing safe computing campaign called SecureIT to help educate the MSU community on safe computing practices.

Learn more about how to configure Windows and MacOS X firewalls. Read Full Article →

IT Services updated technology in 14 classrooms for the fall 2013 semester. Instructors in those specific technology classrooms have received messages detailing the updates.

Select classroom updates are occurring in Anthony, Business College Complex, Center for International Program (CIP), Chemistry, Engineering, Eppley, Erickson, IM Circle, IM West, Jenison, and McDonel.

Updates include the host computer on classroom technology carts will run Windows 7 and Office 2013. Read Full Article →

Starting in the fall 2013 semester, MSU is launching several new features in the MSU Desire2Learn (D2L) Learning Management System.

1. New gradebook feature: Upload grades from the D2L gradebook directly to the Registrar’s Office has been added. Faculty will still need to go into the Registrar’s system to submit final grades, but the process of moving the grades from the D2L gradebook to the Registrar’s Grade System can now be done by pressing a link.

IT Services will upgrade the Kaltura MediaSpace video storage from version 2.0 to version 4.5 beginning on Monday, August 19.

This upgrade will offer MSU students, faculty, and staff an expanded portal that supports searching, sharing, and publishing of video and audio.

The upgrade will occur Monday, August 19, starting at 8 p.m. Read Full Article →