January 25, 2011

CONTENTS:
--NEW COMPUTER VIRUS TYPE: SCAREWARE
--PREPARING TO TEACH WITH CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY AT LEHIGH
--NEW VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK (VPN) AT LEHIGH
--WHY THE H: DRIVE IS YOUR FRIEND
--LTS SEMINARS FOR SPRING 2011
--NEW LIBRARY SERVICES WEBSITE
--THE NEW LTS STRATEGIC PLAN 2011-2015
--LIBRARY OPENS FIRST EXHIBIT OF 2011


NEW COMPUTER VIRUS TYPE: SCAREWARE IS PROLIFERATING -- PROTECT YOUR PC WITH ADBLOCK PLUS
A new type of computer virus has been rapidly proliferating to PCs. Known as scareware; these viruses overwhelm the user with numerous fraudulent error messages such as “Computer Virus Found”, “Registry Corruption Detected”, and “Hard Drive Failure”. Scareware will also disrupt Internet connectivity and crash various programs in an effort to deceive the user into believing a true problem exists. Conveniently, pop-up screens soon appear offering a seemingly legitimate cleanup utility program for purchase. Individuals who are duped into purchasing the program unknowingly expose their credit card information to criminal elements risking fraud and identity theft.

Lehigh University faced a tremendous uptick in these attacks during calendar year 2010. According to LTS Client Services statistics, there were 234 instances of virus infections requiring complete computer re-imaging; this represents a 344% increase from the prior year.

There are several steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of falling victim to computer viruses. First, ensure your Windows PC is up-to-date with the latest security patches by visiting http://update.microsoft.com. Second, avoid using Microsoft Internet Explorer unless required. LTS recommends using the Mozilla Firefox web browser. Lastly, install the Adblock Plus plug-in to Mozilla Firefox by visiting http://www.lehigh.edu/act/adblockplus. Adblock Plus will shield you from websites known to harbor computer viruses and other security threats.



PREPARING TO TEACH WITH CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY AT LEHIGH
-- Review and test the technology in your classroom before the first class; ask one of your technology support team members (Instructional Technology Consultant or Computing Consultant) to review the technology with you. You may also call the Media Center if you’d like an on-site orientation to your classroom.

-- Try to get into your assigned classrooms some time before the start of a new semester, to familiarize yourself with the technology in the rooms, as each room may be a little different. You can find a photograph and instructions for your classrooms here: http://mediaclassrooms.web.lehigh.edu/public/sites.php. Click your building, then your room.

-- If you are using a laptop and need LAN/internet access, bring an Ethernet cable with you. The current standard for connecting a laptop to a presentation system is via a provided 15 pin male VGA cable. You should provide any adapters you might need to attach your laptop to this cable type. A detailed discussion on connecting laptops to projectors can be found here: http://llnotes.web.lehigh.edu/article.php?id=30.

-- If you are using technology to connect to remote users (students or guest speakers) and are unsure of the hardware/software setup you need, please consult with your Instructional Technology Consultant or Computing Consultant a few days in advance of the class.

-- Experiencing problems during class with the computer, projection system or other classroom technology? Please call the Help Desk (x8-4357) to report the problem. You might also want to read this article on some things you can try when you experience problems in a classroom (best read before things go wrong): http://llnotes.web.lehigh.edu/article.php?id=141.



NEW VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK (VPN) AT LEHIGH
Lehigh clients have been using a VPN (vpn.lehigh.edu) for years to securely access campus resources from home, on the road and other remote locations. The current VPN setup at Lehigh enables users to connect to the Lehigh network from a remote computer through the use of a built-in VPN client that is part of the Windows Operating System or Macintosh and Linux. As of February 1, 2011, this VPN (vpn.lehigh.edu) will be taken out of service and all users must migrate to a new SSLVPN (sslvpn.lehigh.edu). Documentation on how to install and use the new SSLVPN client employing split tunneling can be seen at: http://www.lehigh.edu/computing/docs/vpn. Please note that the new VPN will not automatically map network drives (as the former client did). Easy and convenient drive mapping utilities for Mac and Windows will be available when the new VPN goes live.

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a computer network that uses the internet to provide remote users or offices secure access to an organization’s network. Using VPN software from off campus allows a user to access the resources of Lehigh’s local network such as the user’s H: drive or the departmental I: drive. This access is possible because VPN software places the user’s computer directly on Lehigh’s network; the computer appears to be on campus.

VPNs also have the added benefit of using a secure tunneling protocol. This protocol prevents other users on the internet from accessing data that is transmitted back and forth from a client computer to a private network (such as Lehigh’s network). There are two methods of routing traffic though the Lehigh network using the VPN. One is to allow all traffic to pass through Lehigh’s network tunnel. The second is called split tunneling; only Lehigh traffic passes through the tunnel, while other traffic such as web browsing or viewing videos on YouTube goes through the user’s home internet service provider. Split tunneling identifies the resource a user wants to access and directs its network traffic accordingly. For example, the user who needs access to a departmental LAN drive would be directed through the private network; the user accessing Amazon.com would be directed outside the private network. Split tunneling minimizes the VPN-originated traffic on Lehigh’s internal networks.



WHY THE H: DRIVE IS YOUR FRIEND
The H: drive is a network drive that faculty, staff, and students can access from departmental (and often personal) computers. There are numerous reasons to use the H: drive rather than your local hard disk when storing files.

-- The H: drive now has a storage capacity of 1 gigabyte (increased from 500 MB last year). The H: drive is backed up nightly and scanned for viruses.

-- The Shadow Copy function http://www.lehigh.edu/helpdesk/docs/shadow/copy.html is great for restoring files that have been corrupted, that have lost content, or that have been mistakenly deleted.

-- The H: drive can be accessed from home or while traveling (using the Lehigh VPN and drive mapping utilities). Note that other options may work better for you depending on your data and your needs.

-- Your H: drive files are private (only you can access them), BUT if you want to share a file with staff or students, you can place it in your H: drive Public folder. Files in your Public folder can be accessed by others at Lehigh.

If you have questions about using your H: drive, contact your computing consultant or the help desk at (x8-4357).



LTS SEMINARS FOR SPRING 2011
LTS seminars for spring 2011 are posted at https://cf.lehigh.edu/seminar/ or from the Help Desk page http://www.lehigh.edu/helpdesk.

New Seminars Include:
Social Media in Higher Education -- a discussion-oriented session on how and why social media is being used in higher education.

Teaching with Second Life -- discover the benefits of bringing Second Life into your classroom!

Online Apps for Productivity -- this fast-paced, fun and informative session will introduce you to 60+ Web 2.0 tools you can use now.

Google's Greatest Hits -- a one-hour class covering the latest developments in Google Apps and how to get the latest Google news.

Blogging in Lehigh Google Apps (tentative) -- this service is currently being tested - come to this April seminar to see what we've learned about using Blogger in Lehigh Google Apps.



NEW LIBRARY SERVICES WEBSITE
The new Library Services website is officially up and running http://library.lehigh.edu/. We completed the redesign of the site during the fall semester to facilitate research and to highlight library resources. While both websites ran during the testing period, the old website has now been retired. We hope you find the new website easier to use. We ask that you complete a survey about your initial experience http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/library-services. Specific comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome and can be e-mailed to Tina Hertel at tih205@lehigh.edu.



THE NEW LTS STRATEGIC PLAN 2011-2015
The LTS Plan is available on the Web at http://www.lehigh.edu/~inlts/admin/policies/ltsplan2011/, but if you would like a paper copy (booklet) contact hlz2@lehigh.edu or (x8-3025).



LIBRARY OPENS FIRST EXHIBIT OF 2011
“The American Environment through Travelers’ Eyes”, the new Linderman Library exhibit, opens on February 9, 2011. The exhibit, which follows on the heels of “Environmental STEPS: Environmental Education and Action at Lehigh”, is part of a celebration of library resources in environmental history planned to commemorate the opening of the new STEPS building.

The exhibit, which is on display throughout Linderman, features travel associated with specific modes of transportation, such as the automobile, trains, and ships in the Café Gallery. Exhibition space on the first floor displays important works in both North and South American travel. The Bayer Galleria on the third floor will display examples of travel undertaken by Lehigh faculty, staff, and students. Material will detail educational field trips, as well as travel motivated by scientific exploration and discovery. Please also visit the Parents’ Gallery on the fourth floor to view a selection of contemporary works.

For more information about the exhibit, please email inspc@lehigh.edu or call 610-758-4506.