April 17, 2012

Today's topics:

Laptops at LEPP infected with Flashback

Several personal Mac laptops have been infected with the recent Flashback malware. We've had to disable their LEPP network access until their owners have reported that their computers have been cleaned. This virus is carried by Java. All computers running a version of Java before v1.6.0_31 are vulnerable. This includes Macs, PCs running Windows, and PCs running Linux.

Computers managed by LEPP have already been updated to the new version of Java.

Personally owned Macs should update Java by running Apple Software Update (Java for OS X 2012-001 delivers improved compatibility, security, and reliability by updating Java SE 6 to 1.6.0_31).

Personally owned Windows and Linux computers should download and install the most recent version of Java available at http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

For more information, please see the CIT notice at http://www.it.cornell.edu/services/alert.cfm?id=1928

Taking computers from the Lab

LEPP desktop computers cannot function if they are not connected to the LEPP network. Please notify the LEPP computer group immediately, preferably at least a week in advance, if you need to take a desktop computer elsewhere, e.g. to another lab to run an experiment. Several hours of downtime often will be needed in order to reconfigure or reinstall software for use elsewhere. Anti-theft provisions also may need to be adjusted.

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General network and server maintenance will occur every Tuesday from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM. The CLASSE-IT group will always announce any expected disruptions in our NewsLetter and via CLASSE-IT-NEWS-L, but with the size and complexity of our network there is always the potential for something to go wrong. We will do our best to contain all network maintenance and planned outages to Tuesdays from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM.

Unless other arrangements have been made, CLASSE-managed Windows systems may be updated and rebooted on Tuesday morning at 2:00 AM, so please avoid critical or lengthy operations at that time. For more details, please see SystemExpectations.

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Questions or problems? Submit a service request.

Other resources:

• CLASSE-IT Home Page
• Previous newsletters

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