Security is an area of IT systems that is often under supported and under reported.
In this page we are endevouring to redress that by posting news about vulnarabilities and risks that are currently "in the wild". The intention is to keep you informed but not to scare.
Do feel free to contact us if you feel that any items listed below are relevant to you and you would like to discuss them further.
Contact the UA Tech Serv help desk to book an appointment or to discuss your needs further.
Microsoft security tips - 10/08/11
Security Tip of the Month: Security Best Practices for Microsoft Office 2010 Applications
Get a quick list of the resources that can best help you understand Office 2010 security capabilities and security best practices for deploying and maintaining Office 2010 in your environment.
Security in Office 365
Office 365 is a suite of Internet-based services that are designed to help meet your needs for robust security, 24/7 reliability, and user productivity. Start with an overview of the security practices and technologies that support enterprise-grade security in Office 365 for businesses of all sizes then delve into a more comprehensive and detailed treatment of security in Office 365 with Office 365 for Enterprise Service Descriptions.
Security Threats and Countermeasures for Office 2010
Gain a better understanding of which security risks and threats are relevant to Office 2010, and learn about the default countermeasures in Office 2010.
Plan Security for Office 2010
New security controls are available in Office 2010 to help you plan a robust defense against threats while maintaining information worker productivity. Familiarize yourself with the security controls forTrusted Locations, privacy, VBA macros, ActiveX, Trusted Publishers, junk email, and more with this set of security planning guidance.
Configure Security Settings for Office 2010
Learn how to use the Office Customization Tool (OCT) and Group Policy to configure security settings in Office 2010.
Office 2010 Security Baseline
Explore Microsoft's recommended security configuration settings for Office 2010 with the Microsoft Office 2010 Security Baseline. Part of the Microsoft Security Compliance Manager (SCM) tool, the Office 2010 Security Baseline package includes the Office 2010 Security Guide and an Office 2010 Settings Pack.
Microsoft security news - 01/07/11
5 online safety tips for grads
It’s graduation season, so whether you’re graduating or your child is, here are some safety tips for what’s ahead.
Microsoft releases newest Security Intelligence Report
Volume 10 of the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report was released in May. Read it to learn about the latest online security threats, including an increase in social engineering attacks that trick people into divulging confidential information.
Local news says, "Those calls are not coming from Microsoft"
Senior attorney for the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, Richard Boscovich, appeared on Seattle's KING5.com to highlight a recurring scam: unsolicited phone calls from someone claiming to be from Microsoft and offering technical support.
Get faster, better malware protection
Internet Explorer 9 offers a better warning system for potentially dangerous downloads than other browsers provide. One Microsoft expert says it prevents people from downloading malware 95 percent of the time. Learn more.
Protect your computer
Computer security tales of woe: What's yours?
Even members of the security team at Microsoft aren't immune to the threat of cybercrime. Read how two employees were recently the victims of fake security software and data theft.
Watch out for fake security software
As the Microsoft employee above learned, one of the most common ways that cybercriminals try to steal people's money is by scaring them into downloading fake security software. See some examples of "scareware" and learn how to avoid it.
Does Security Essentials work with other antivirus software?
Can you use Microsoft Security Essentials with other antivirus software? Get the answer, plus learn who is recommending our free antivirus software and why.
Microsoft security news - 10/05/11
Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Beta, is a recovery tool that can help you start an infected PC and perform an offline scan to help identify and remove rootkits and other advanced malware. In addition, Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Beta can be used if you cannot install or start an antivirus solution on your PC, or if the installed solution can’t detect or remove malware on your PC.
Watch out for bin Laden malware on the web and in email
If you're searching for news or pictures of Osama bin Laden, you might find malware instead. This week the FBI warned computer users to be especially careful of email messages that claim to show photos or videos of bin Laden's death.
Beware of "MS Removal Tool" rogue software
Cybercriminals are circulating new fake security software called "MS Removal Tool." If you see a pop-up ad or an email for the MS Removal Tool, ignore it.
Do you play the Xbox video game Modern Warfare 2? The Xbox LIVE online game service recently issued a warning about phishing messages targeting players of the game.
FBI and DOJ take on the Coreflood botnet
On April 13, the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice announced an operation to disable the Coreflood botnet. Microsoft supports the effort, and we've added Coreflood malware detection to our Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool.
Microsoft partners with security community to help reduce risk
Microsoft is partnering with other technology companies on a new process to follow once a vulnerability has been identified in a piece of hardware or software. Learn more about Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure.