IRT News
New Potential Scam: W-2 Voicemail/Email
Posted: February 2, 2012
A new scam is surfacing, transmitted via voicemail or email, that targets employees of organizations. Be on the look out for ANY message that informs you that your 2011 W-2 forms are available for review at a random Web link. This scam might ask for your Social Security Number and other identifying information. Remember that Drexel University employees’ W-2 forms are available for Web viewing ONLY through the "employees" tab of DrexelOne (https://one.drexel.edu) in the "Tax Forms" link.
If you have received this type of voicemail or email, DO NOT GO TO THE INDICATED WEB SITE AND DO NOT PROVIDE THE REQUESTED INFORMATION! This scam message's intention is to obtain your personal information for use in identity theft.
If you have any questions or concerns, or think you might have received a scam/phishing message, contact the IRT Help Desk at 215-895-2020 or consult@drexel.edu.
Browser Compatibility
Posted: February 1, 2012
While Drexel is in the process of transitioning to Blackboard Learn 9 as our Learning Management System, Blackboard has not released any updates for the current LMS (BbVista). Therefore, the latest versions of Firefox and Chrome are not currently supported. Once we have transitioned the LMS to Learn 9 in the upcoming Summer quarter, major browsers that currently lack support can be used.
Also, IRT is in the process of testing a new version of Webmail that provides every indication of compatibility with Internet Explorer 9. When we are certain, we will update Webmail and make the announcement.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the IRT Help Desk at consult@drexel.edu or 215-895-2020.
New Version of Photo Class List is Live!
Posted: January 5, 2012
A newly-designed and improved version of Photo Class List is now live! New features include the automatic updating of ListServ class lists, and the ability to quickly message students registered for a class without opening an email client. All other functionality is retained in this new version.
To find out more, and check out the new Photo Class List, access it at the same link as the old one: http://www.drexel.edu/classlist.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, feel free to contact the Mass Mailing team at mailreq@drexel.edu.
New Phishing Spam Email
A new, unauthorized email from a source representing itself as 'Helpdesk' or 'drexelhelpdesk' is circulating through the University. The malicious email reports that your mailbox is over quota and asks you to click on a link to either provide personal information or it uploads malware or a virus. The end result is the users who did as the mail directed had their computers compromised. Do not click on the link(s) and Delete the email immediately. More information about how to avoid malicious Phishing is published in our Security Tech Update.
Action Required: DragonFly 3
Posted: September 27, 2011
Due to a change at Drexel's security vendor, people who use DragonFly3, but had not updated their wireless settings using the new DragonFly3 Installation Wizard before September 30, will need to do so now to ensure uninterrupted service. Those who recently configured wireless access using the Wizard may ignore this message because the settings in your wireless devices are already up-to-date. You should update your settings as soon as possible so you do not lose wireless service. See our DragonFly3 Update page for complete information and instructions.
Registering Network Jacks (Resnet)
Posted: September 13, 2011
All residence hall rooms provide a network jack for each student's computer. Before you configure Dragonfly for wireless, you need to register your network jack. Why is this important? Wired network access in our residence halls provides you with network speeds unlike you have experienced before with home wireless networks. The wired network jack in the residence halls gives you full-duplex, 1 Gbps access to the Internet -- far faster than Verizon Fios, Comcast Cable or any wireless network.
How do you do this? Once you plug your computer's Ethernet cable into a jack, browse to any Web site or go directly to https://dormproxy.irt.drexel.edu and follow the on-screen Resnet instructions exactly (do NOT skip a single step) to activate your jack and connect to the Internet. This process also helps you ensure your computer is secure, is scanned for viruses and other vulnerabilities and is clean before connecting to our shared network. The registration instructions at the above link will help you update your anti-virus software, check your computer for infection, verify settings, and register your computer for Drexel's network. If you complete this step first, your computer will be ready for Dragonfly.
NOTE: In order to use any other devices, such as gaming consoles, on the wired network, you must first register your network jack with your computer before plugging in the other device. Also note that all network jacks are reset every term, so even returning students will need to re-register with Resnet.
For more information, visit http://www.drexel.edu/irt/networks/resnet.
Please call the IRT Help Desk only after a failed attempt to register your computer. All Resnet troubleshooting must be done in your room while your computer is connected to your Ethernet jack. To contact the IRT Help Desk, email consult@drexel.edu or call 215-895-2020 (select option 5, then option 1). If you leave a message, include your full name, phone number, and a detailed description of the problem (what you were doing or the error you are receiving).
Phase-out of MS Office License for Students
Posted: August 17, 2011
While Drexel has provided such application software for a long time, over the next few months we will phase out the free distribution of Microsoft Office for students.
Dates to remember:
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July 1 – MS Office available at JourneyEd via DrexelOne at higher ed discount.
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July 29 – MS Office removed from the software server.
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Oct. 1 – Oct. 31 – students who previously have obtained a copy of Office from the software server or a pre-licensed copy from eAcademy (priced at appx. $10-$20) are legally obligated to remove that copy of Office from their computers.
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Oct. 31 – Microsoft campus-wide site license for student use expires.
There are a number of other avenues to obtain and use Microsoft Office once the license expires:
To own your own copy of Office, log into DrexelOne at http://one.drexel.edu, click the "Drexel" tab, and look under "Hardware and Software" for our affiliate, JourneyEd. They provide educationally discounted productivity software including Microsoft Office for Windows and Mac. Another means of obtaining Office software is to include it installed directly on a new computer purchased from the vendor.
Drexel and Microsoft partnered for Live@Edu by which students can sign up for a Microsoft ExchangeLabs account (eLink) through the Drexel Computer Accounts Management Service. The eLink account (or your own msn.com or Hotmail.com account) gives students access to Microsoft Office WebApps via Windows Live, a 25 GB SkyDrive and 10 GB additional email quota. (http://www.drexel.edu/irt/org/initiatives/linkedu).
Drexel continues to provide many academic applications to its students on our secure software server, http://software.drexel.edu. Log in with your Drexel userid and password, select Students and then select your platform’s operating system to locate software for your computer. You can view also the list of software available on campus at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/software/softwarelist.
If you would like additional information or clarification, please contact the IRT Helpdesk at consult@drexel.edu, 215-895-2020.
IBM SPSS 19 for Students Now Available
Posted: June 24, 2011
After June 30, 2011, the license for IBM SPSS 18 is set to expire. However, the newer version, IBM SPSS 19, has been licensed for student use (PC and Mac) until spring-summer 2012. Students who need IBM SPSS can download version 19 from IRT's software site at http://software.drexel.edu. If you've already installed IBM SPSS 19 prior to this announcement, you will need to update your license key (via the license key wizard within the application) with the one provided on IRT's software site. Students with version 18 will need to uninstall it before installing version 19.
If you have any questions about the availability or licensing of IBM SPSS, contact the IRT Help Desk at consult@drexel.edu or 215-895-2020.
Attention: New Email Scam in Circulation
Posted: June 23, 2011
A new email scam has been circulating the Web. This one poses as a failed wired transfer notification and tries to persuade users to click a bogus link. If you receive this scam email, do NOT click any links within and do not respond to it--instead, delete it immediately.
Always be suspicious of any links in emails, and any emails you aren't expecting, whether they appear to be from a legitimate institution or not. Never give anyone your password, and always log into reputable organizations via their official home pages.
If you are ever unsure of an email's validity, contact the IRT Help Desk for advice at consult@drexel.edu or 215-895-2020.
DUNX1 Server Upgrade Complete
Posted: June 16, 2011
The upgrade to the DUNX1 server has been completed. If you have any questions or concerns about this migration, please contact the IRT Help Desk at 215-895-2020 or consult@drexel.edu.
Upgrade to DUNX1 Server
Posted: June 2, 2011
IRT will be upgrading the hardware for the DUNX1 server after June 14 during the summer term break. Current user accounts will be migrated to the new server with minimal disruption to users. IRT will post updated information on our home page at http://www.drexel.edu/irt once plans for the upgrade are finalized.
Media:scape Collaboration Table Now on Demo
Posted: April 20, 2011
IRT will be demoing media:scape, a new collaboration table. The media:scape’s table setup allows for up to six devices to display their screens on one large flat-screen via VGA connections. Rather than turning computers around or hunching around one small computer screen, anyone sitting at the table can send their screen to the large flat-screen for all to see.
The table is currently installed at the Instructional Technology Center (ITC), which is located in room 109 of the Korman Computing Center. Faculty members are encouraged to stop by and try out this new technology while it is on demo. The table will be piloted for the next 3 weeks.
More information about this technology can be found at the Steelcase website.
DNS Update for Off-Campus Users
Posted: March 24, 2011
The Drexel Domain Name System (DNS) is no longer available for off-campus use. If you have a manually-configured off-campus computer, network, or mobile device, you should reconfigure it to use the DNS Server addressed provided by your ISP. Contact the IRT Help Desk at consult@drexel.edu or 215-895-2020 if you have any questions.
More information can also be found in March 10th's Technology Update by clicking here.
Microsoft Releases Internet Explorer 9
Posted: March 24, 2011
On March 14, Microsoft released Internet Explorer 9 to the public. The new version of the browser offers many new features, including support for HTML5, increased speed, and new pinning functionality. However, please note that Internet Explorer 9 is NOT certified for use with Drexel's Enterprise systems, Webmail, or other online services. Therefore, users should not yet upgrade to the new browser version.
Please also note that Internet Explorer 9 cannot be installed on Windows XP machines.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the IRT Help Desk at consult@drexel.edu or 215-895-2020.
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Released
Posted: March 9, 2011
Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 was released on February 22. Important security and performance patches are included, as well as improvements to Windows 7 features. If your computer is set to install updates automatically, you might have noticed it rebooting after the update. If your computer is not set to update automatically, be sure to download and install this important update via Windows Update or Microsoft’s Web site.
For more information or to download the update, visit http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/whats-included-in-windows-7-service-pack-1-sp1.
SPSS Licensing Update
Posted: March 9, 2011
As a result of last year’s acquisition of IBM SPSS (formerly PASW), Drexel’s academic licensing options have changed.
IBM will phase out Drexel’s license for the IBM SPSS (PASW) student home-use option for privately-owned computers over the course of this year. Although the license will be discontinued after May 31, 2011, there will be a 30-day grace period before official discontinuation on June 30, 2011. However, for less than $100, students will be able to purchase the software from e-Academy (accessible under the “Drexel” tab in DrexelOne).
For faculty and staff, the licensing terms remain the same with one exception: Decision Trees has replaced the AnswerTree module. Decision Trees, which provides the same functionality as AnswerTree, is now available as a standalone product in our current license for IBM SPSS v. 18.
Office 2011 for Mac Now Available
Posted: January 18, 2011
Microsoft Office 2011 is now available for Mac via the software server. To download it, log in with your Drexel domain credentials at https://software.drexel.edu, then select your status. Please be sure to read the installation notes before you install Office 2011.
New Web Development Classes Available in January!
Posted: January 3, 2011
Beginning in January, new Web development workshops will be available to the Drexel community:
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Web Basics I & II will introduce users to basic Web concepts, fundamental HTML coding, and best practices for Web design and Web content.
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Web Content Editing with Dreamweaver will focus on adding and editing content for pre-existing Web pages and Web sites using the Dreamweaver editor.
Attendees of both workshops will learn best practices for formatting text and adding media to Web pages. Additionally, they will discover some tools that make text conversion from multiple sources easier and more efficient.
To view date, time, and location information, visit the Workshops page at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/help/workshops. To register for any of the sessions, email olt@drexel.edu. We hope to offer more classes on Web development topics in the future, so remember to check the Workshops page frequently!
Cessation of Virus Definition Updates for Symantec 9
Posted: December 13, 2010
The official end of support life for Symantec Anti-virus 9 was March 31, 2009. However, a small number of users who purchased content extensions were given a grace period to access updated virus definitions as they became available. On April 30, 2011, that grace period will end. Any virus definitions for SAV 9 will no longer provide the best virus protection—and the software will also no longer work on Windows 9.X or Windows NT machines. Any users of SAV 9 are thus encouraged to migrate to Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.
SEP 11 can be downloaded from Drexel’s software server at https://software.drexel.edu. Simply log in with your DrexelOne credentials to access the software. Please be sure to read the readme (.txt) file included in the download area for SEP 11.
For questions or concerns, contact the IRT Help Desk at consult@drexel.edu or 215-895-2020.
New Version of MATLAB Available
Posted: October 29, 2010
Faculty, staff, and students can now download the new version of MATLAB, 2010b, from the software server at https://software.drexel.edu. Choose from the Windows 32-bit, Windows 64-bit, Mac, or Linux versions.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact the IRT Help Desk at consult@drexel.edu or 215-895-2020.
Attention: Tax Email Scam
Posted: October 18, 2010
A new email scam has been circulating online. This time, the scam email claims to be from the Federal Government concerning rejected tax payments. It might be titled "EFTPS Online." This email is BOGUS. Every other word of it is misspelled, and the links do NOT go where they claim to go. If you receive this email, delete it immediately, unanswered.
If you have any questions, please contact the IRT Help Desk at consult@drexel.edu, 215-895-2020, or through IRT Tech Chat linked on IRT's home page.
Attention: iTunes Email Scam
Posted: October 1, 2010
Another scam email has been circulating online. This scam, which is very similar to the Buy.com and Amazon scams, masquerades as a receipt/order confirmation from iTunes. However, these emails are NOT from iTunes or any other legitimate entity. These receipts are scams designed to panic users into clicking any of the links in the email. These links go to the scammer's Web site, where sensitive information can be stolen.
These scams are easy to spot. They are often receipts for outrageously priced products, and all of the links (if you hover over them but do NOT click them) go to unrecognizable sites.
If you receive one of these scam emails, delete it immediately. If you have any questions, please contact the IRT Help Desk at consult@drexel.edu, 215-895-2020, or through IRT Tech Chat linked on IRT's home page.
Email Migration
Posted: September 15, 2010
Over the next couple of weeks, IRT will be migrating all basic Drexel email accounts to new servers and implementing a new webmail version. Userids and passwords remain the same. Every evening till completion, a batch of accounts will be moved. DrexelOne users will know they have been migrated when they see the new email interface. Webmail users will know they have been upgraded when they notice an endless "Loading" message after logging in. Instead use the replacement address, http://mail.drexel.edu; be sure to bookmark it.
Exchange mail service and ExchangeWeb are not not changing. Users who check their email through a POP or IMAP email application, such as Outlook or Entourage, will not notice any change.
If you have any questions, contact the IRT Help Desk at consult@drexel.edu, via online chat at http://www.drexel.edu/irt, or call 215-895-2020.
HTML Mass Email Service
Posted: September 13, 2010
In order to further develop and standardize the look of Drexel’s University-wide mass email communication, IRT is pleased to announce formatted (HTML) mass email service, an upgrade from our plain text service. All plain text messages for mass distribution will be formatted into one of three of IRT's default HTML templates by the Mass Mailing Team. Hand-crafted HTML provided by the requestor will be tested for client compatibility.
For more information about our new service, see http://www.drexel.edu/irt/email/mailinglists/submissions. For examples of the new default templates, see http://www.drexel.edu/irt/email/mailinglists/submissions/htmlTemplates.
Caution: New Computer Worm Loose
Posted: September 10, 2010
A new computer worm has been released into the wild and is circulating via email messages with the subject "Here you have." Do not open this email if you get it! Delete it, update your anti-virus software(via LiveUpdate for Symantec), and run a full scan immediately. New virus definitions from Symantec should pick up the worm, labeled "w32.lmsolk.B@mm." A standalone fix tool in forthcoming from Symantec.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the IRT Help Desk at 215-895-2020 or consult@drexel.edu.
EndNote X4 for PC Available for Download
Posted: July 14, 2010
The PC version of EndNote X4 is now available for download from the software server via the software list at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/software/softwarelist. The Mac version will be available later this summer.
SEP 11.0.6 for Mac Available for Download
Posted: July 2, 2010
Symantec EndPoint Protection 11.0.6 is now available for Snow Leopard. It can be downloaded from the software server via the software list at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/software/softwarelist.
Subscribe to the Tech Update!
Have you unsubscribed from Drexel's general email announcements, but wish to receive the Tech Update? Would you like to subscribe with a non-Drexel account? You can either choose to resubscribe to all optional announcements, or subscribe to receive only the Tech Update. Instructions are available at this link.
Bb Vista issue with Java update 1.6.0_20
Posted: April 2, 2010
Sun/Oracle has recently released Java 1.6.0_20. At this time, Blackboard is recommending that users do not upgrade or rollback to the previous version. The new update recognizes a potential security threat and users will get a warning message (see below) when logging into Vista that recommends they block components that are needed for some of the functionality in Bb Vista; including, Chat, File Manager, and the HTML editor.
If a user has already upgraded and chooses not to rollback, they can change the settings in the Java control panel to Disable verification or "hide warning and run with protections".
Further instruction on this option can be found at http://www.java.com/en/download/help/error_mixedcode.xml.
Any questions can be directed to the Online Learning Team (olt@drexel.edu)
Internet Explorer Security Update
According to the security bulletin Microsoft released on March 30th, certain vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer 6 through 8 were publicly disclosed. In response to this disclosure, Microsoft has released security update MS10-018 (KB980182) to patch these vulnerabilities. This critical update can be downloaded via Windows Update.
Always ensure that your computer is up-to-date!
For more information, please visit the Microsoft TechNet blog.
IRT TechChat and Twitter
To provide faster access to IRT support and notices of events we've launched two new tools for you on the IRT home page. The new TechChat tool will allow the Drexel community to chat live with staff on the IRT Help Desk for quick answers to your technology questions. Look for it in the left hand column of http://www.drexel.edu/irt and on our System Status page. IRT's new Twitter page keeps you informed of events, breaking news, and services. Be sure to check it out on the IRT home page or https://twitter.com/Drexel_IRT.
Adobe Critical Patch Released
Adobe issued a critical patch to address the vulnerability in Adobe Reader and Acrobat 9.2 and earlier announced in late December '09. Version 9.3 is now the latest version available. Exploits to this vulnerability could cause a crash and potentially allow allow an attacker to take control of the affected system. To update your version of Acrobat, first be sure you have at least version 9 on your computer. IRT provides Acrobat 9 on https://software.drexel.edu. With version 9 installed, open the application and choose the Help menu/Check for Updates. This process will automatically install version 9.3 which includes the security patch.
As Previously Announced
A patch will be available on January 12, 2010; in the meantime, users can disable JavaScript in Adobe Reader and Acrobat as follows:
- Launch Acrobat or Adobe Reader
- Select Edit > Preferences
- Select the JavaScript Category
- Uncheck the 'Enable Acrobat JavaScript' option
- Click OK
New Procedure for Licensing Matlab
This summer IRT rolled out three new License Management servers for the Drexel campus site-wide license for Matlab R14, R2007a through R2009b. These new servers replace the aging license management servers used to facilitate the distribution of seats for specific Matlab products. The current servers are scheduled to be decommissioned on December 30, 2009. They are dunx1.irt.drexel.edu, ldap1.irt.drexel.edu and ldap2.irt.drexel.edu. All system administrators and individual users of the Matlab software who point to these old LM servers need to update the 'license.dat' file on their client workstations and larger scale departmental unix servers. View the instructions for completing the new licensing process.
Windows 7 Released
IRT is providing limited support for Windows 7 for the general user population. Enterprise system users (INB, Nolij, Hyperion, etc) should not upgrade to Windows 7 until all testing has been completed and each application has been certified compatible with Win7 and Internet Explorer 8. For those users who are able to upgrade, we suggest enabling compatibility mode in IE8 to allow sites coded for IE7 to work properly. Stay tuned to the IRT Tech Updates and this site for the most current information.
IRT Institute for Innovation
IRT recently hosted a two-day Innovation in Teaching seminar on Thursday and Friday, September 10th and 11th. It was a great opportunity to become familiar with the many different technologies available for faculty and staff. Recordings for all of the sessions are available for viewing on the IRT web site.
Apple OS 10.6 Release - Snow Leopard
The recent release of Snow Leopard promises enhancements and new technologies for accessibility, faster response time and built-in support for Exchange. Along with many new OS releases come the cautionary tales of software incompatibility. Those most notably identified by IRT: Norton 10 and 11 and SPSS 17. Contact the IRT Help desk with questions at 215-895-2020, before you install Snow Leopard. Apple has published a list of incompatible software at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3258.
Service Pack 2 for Macintosh Office 2008
Microsoft has released its Service Pack 2 for Mac MS Office 08 and can be downloaded from the IRT software server. SP2 contains a number of bug fixes, and also delivers a new tool called Document Connection for Mac, which allows easier collaboration on SharePoint and Windows Live workspace.
Commencement 2009 - University City Main Campus
Ceremonies for all students (bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree recipients) were held on Saturday, June 13. View the 2009 Commencement archive.
