October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. For week five CSU, Chico’s Information Security is focusing on Ransomware.

Ransomware comprises a class of malware which restricts access to the computer system that it infects, and demands a ransom paid to the creator of the malware in order for the restriction to be removed. Some forms of ransomware encrypt files on the system’s hard drive (cryptoviral extortion) while some may simply lock the system and display messages intended to coax the user into paying.

What To Do if You Get Infected with Ransomware

• Do NOT pay the “ransom” or attempt to contact the ransomware creator.
• Immediately disconnect your computer from the wired or wireless network, to help avoid your computer from infecting others on the network.
• Contact ITSS for assistance.

ISEC has recommendations for avoiding ransomware on their web page. Please read this information about ransomware and review all of the Cybersecurity Month content to stay safer and more secure online.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. For week four CSU, Chico’s Information Security is focusing on malware.

Malware: Malware is short for malicious software, it is a software that is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.

Viruses: A computer virus is a form of malicious software that piggy backs onto code in order to spread and reproduce itself. It is deployed by an attacker to damage or take control of a computer.

Trojan: A Trojan is a type of malware that disguises itself as legitimate software to gain access into the users system.

Spyware: Spyware is software that enables a user to obtain convert information about computer activity by transmitting data covertly from their hard drive.

ISEC has recommendations for avoiding all types of malware on their web page. Please read this information about malware and follow along each week of Cybersecurity Month to stay safer and more secure online.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. For week three CSU, Chico’s Information Security is focusing on data security.

University data is grouped into three categories:

• Level 1 – Confidential
• Level 2 – Internal
• Level 3 – General

Each of these levels should be protected to varying degrees detailed on ISEC’s Week 3 NCSAM page.

Please read this information about university data security levels, and follow along each week of Cybersecurity Month to stay safer and more secure online.

A vulnerability has been reported in Google Chrome, which can be exploited to potentially compromise a vulnerable system.

ITSS is immediately enforcing the auto update function within Chrome, and is enabling the Chrome browser notification agent that notifies users that the browser must be relaunched.

To check that Chrome is up to date (you should update your home computers as well) go to the “About Google Chrome…” window, accessible from the address bar using the special URL “chrome://settings/help”.

If you are prompted to Relaunch, please click the Relaunch button to do so.

When an update has been installed, it does not take effect until the browser is relaunched. Notification of a Relaunch will reappear every 4 hours until the browser has been relaunched.