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So you want to be a webfundi?So jy wil `n webfundi wees?

Friday, November 23rd, 2012

Your department decided it’s time to get with the programme and update that ancient website. And you are the lucky chosen one to manage the project. Don’t panic, it’s not as difficult as it seems.

Let’s start by defining the various types of websites the university hosts and publishes. This includes the faculty, school and academic departments, division, unit, centre of excellence and institute websites, institutional web portals: student portals; staff portal; alumni portal; prospective student portal, student residence and association websites, institutional blog and wiki services and other websites of affiliated entities hosted on university servers.

Each department, faculty, division or institute is responsible for it’s own website. IT supplies the platform and infrastructure on which this site is hosted and assists with the initial administration process. The building and maintenance of the site remains the responsibility of each entity.

So where do you start? Before jumping in at the deep end, there are a few decisions you need to make.

Firstly – and this is probably the most important one – establish what your department’s needs are and which platform would be the best option to run your website on. If you’re unsure what your options are, read more here.

Ok, so you’ve decided which platform to use. Your next step is to find someone to build and maintain the site. Although it seems like the easiest and fastest option to employ an outside company, just keep in mind that a website needs to be updated regularly. Initial set up costs will be high and you might need to keep on paying the company for maintenance if it’s not implemented on an easy, user-friendly interface. In the long run you will be better off investing in the training of someone within your department.

And lastly, register the person responsible for the website as pagemaster. This person doesn’t necessarily have to be the same person responsible for the updates and maintenance, but it would make administration considerably easier. The registration request can be made by completing a simple form. As soon as the application is completed and processed, an e-mail will be sent to the contact person with the necessary information.

You will also find more detailed information on our self help wiki regarding ftp, blog and wiki applications, etc. Feel free to contact us for any additional information you might need.

Jou departement het ingegee en besluit dis tyd vir `n webwerf. Jy is egter gekies as die gelukkige persoon wat die hele projek van begin tot einde moet bestuur. Maak die blote gedagte jou angsbevange? Dis eenvoudiger as wat dit klink.

Kom ons begin by die verskeie tipes webwerwe wat die universiteit huisves. Dit sluit die korporatiewe of institusionele webwerf, fakulteit, skole en akademiese departemente, afdelings, eenhede, sentrum vir uitnemendheid en alle institusionele webwerwe in, sowel as die institusionele webportale: studente portaal; personeel portaal; alumni portaal; voornemende studente portaal, koshuise en studente verenigings, institusionele blogs en wiki-dienste en ander webwerwe van ander geaffilieerde entiteite.

Elke departement, fakulteit, afdeling, sentrum of instituut is verantwoordelik vir sy  eie webwerf. IT verskaf die platform en infrastruktuur, sowel as hulp met die aanvanklike adminstrasieproses. Die bou en onderhoud van die webwerf berus egter by die entiteit self.

So waar begin jy? Daar is `n paar basiese besluite om te neem voor jy by die diep kant inspring.

Eerstens – en hierdie is jou belangrikste besluit – bepaal watter platform aan jou afdeling se behoeftes sal voldoen. Meer gedetaileerde inligting oor die beskikbare platforms, kan hier gevind word.

Goed, so julle het besluit watter platform is die gepaste een, die volgende stap is om iemand aan te wys om die webwerf te bou en in stand te hou. Alhoewel dit die maklikste en vinnigste oplossing sou wees om `n buitemaatskappy te gebruik, hou net in gedagte dat `n webwerf dinamies is en gereeld opgedateer en aangepas moet word. Op die lang duur mag die kostes meer wees. Indien dit enigsins moontlik is, belê eerder in opleiding vir iemand binne die departement.

Laastens, registreer die verantwoordelike persoon as webmeester. Hierdie persoon hoef nie die persoon te wees wat die opdaterings self doen nie, maar dit sal administrasie wel vergemaklik. Die registrasie-aansoek word gedoen deur `n eenvoudige vorm. Sodra die aansoek verwerk is, sal `n e-pos aan die kontakpersoon gegee word met die nodige inligting.

Op die selfhelp-wiki is daar verdere inligting oor onder andere ftp, blog- en wiki-aansoeke, ens. Kontak ons ook gerus vir verdere inligting.

You personal info in the wrong hands?Jou persoonlike inligting in die verkeerde hande?

Friday, November 9th, 2012

If admin and filing is just as frustrating to you as it is to me, you receive all your statements and accounts by e-mail rather than by snail mail.

How many times have we heard how important it is to make sure the information on your pc is safe and secure. Most of the time we think in terms of work related data and we’re not too worried. You have more personal information on your pc than you think. How easily we send bank details, passwords and other important info to other people via e-mail, because we just assume that it’s safe. 

Have you considered how much personal information you have stored in your mailbox and what a cyber criminal can use it for? For this reason it’s of the utmost importance that you take certain measures when it comes to your computer’s security.

1. If you leave your desk for longer than a few minutes, rather lock your pc by typing the Windows and L key or using the Lock this computer-function when you type Ctrl+Alt+Delete. Your info will be safe from passing, prying eyes.

2. Choose passwords wisely (For more handy tips on the selection of a secure password, click here)

2.1 Be careful of using a password forming a pattern on your keyboard. This is one of the popular ways of choosing a password and also one of the easiest one to crack for a cyber criminal. Avoid something like 1q2w3e4r5t,  !QAZ@WSX, qwertasdf or 654321 of 123456.

2.2 Rather be creative when selecting your password and think of a sentence unique to you, yet easy to remember. Use the first letter of each word and through in a digit or character to make it more difficult.

2.3 Always choose a password with at least 8 characters (letters, numbers, punctuation marks or special character like @$%^&*, etc.

3. Do not write down your passwords. It’s the same as leaving your key on your front doo’r’s steps.

4. Never save passwords in your browser, for example Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome or Safari. It’s extremely easy for someone to access those passwords. If your browser or any programme asks if the password should be saved, rather choose no, even if it’s less effort.

5. Do not give your password to anyone over the phone, e-mail or  instant message (IM). Never reply to an e-mail requesting any passwords, account numbers or PINS.

(INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY  NEELS BLOM)

As jy enigsins so sku vir administrasie en liasseerwerk is soos ek, ontvang jy ook deesdae al jou state en rekeninge per e-pos in plaas van slakkepos.

Ons het al tot vervelens toe gehoor hoe belangrik dit is om die inligting op jou rekenaar te beskerm. Meeste van die tyd dink ons slegs in terme van werksverwante data en ons is nie te bekommerd nie. Maar jy het meer persoonlike inligting op jou rekenaar as wat jy dink en ons stuur maar te maklik bankdetails, wagwoorde en ander belangrike inligting via e-pos omdat ons glo dis veilig.

Het jy al gedink wat `n kuberkrimineel met al daardie inligting kan maak as hy sy skelm handjies daarop kry? Daarom is dit tog belangrik dat jy steeds sekere maatreëls tref as dit kom by jou rekenaar se sekuriteit.

1. As jy vir langer as `n paar minute wegloop by jou rekenaar, sluit dit eerder deur Windows en L of die Lock this computer-funksie te gebruik. Jou inligting is dan weggesteek vir nuuskierige, dwalende oë.

2. Kies wagwoorde versigtig. (Vir nog handige inligting oor wagwoorde en hoe om die beste wagwoord te kies, lees gerus hier)

2.1 Oppas om ‘n wagwoord te gebruik wat ‘n patroon op die sleutelbord vorm. Dis die algemeenste manier om `m wagwoord te kies en gevolglik ook die maklikste manier vir `n kuberkrimineel om jou wagwoord in die hande te kry. Vermy iets soos 1q2w3e4r5t of !QAZ@WSX of qwertasdf of 654321 of 123456.

2.2 Wees eerder kreatief en dink ‘n sinnetjie uit wat jy maklik sal kan onthou, en gebruik dan die eerste letter van elke woord, maar gooi so ‘n syfer of twee of dalk ‘n leesteken tussenin.

2.3 Kies altyd ‘n wagwoord wat minstens 8 karakters (letters, syfers, leestekens en spesiale tekens soos @$%^&* ens) het.

3. Moenie wagwoorde neerskryf nie. Dis net so goed as of jou voordeursleutel op jou stoeptrappie te los.

4. Moet nooit wagwoorde in jou webblaaier, byvoorbeeld Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, ens stoor nie. Dis geweldig maklik vir iemand om dan daardie wagwoorde in die hande te kry. As die blaaier vir jou vra of dit die wagwoord moet onthou, sê eerder nee al is dit minder moeite. Dieselfde geld vir Remote Desktop sessies en gestoorde wagwoorde.

5. Moenie jou wagwoord vir enigiemand oor die foon of via epos of ‘n kitsboodskap (IM) gee of reageer op enige epos wat vra dat jy dit (of jou bank rekeningnommer en PIN) aanlyn intik of per epos stuur nie.

(INLIGTING VERSKAF DEUR NEELS BLOM)

Suffering from password fatigue?Ly jy aan wagwoord-uitputting?

Friday, November 9th, 2012

According to a study conducted in America in August of this year nearly 3 in 5 adults have 5 or more unique online passwords to remember. It’s no wonder we struggle to remember them all.

Believe it or not, there’s even a recognised psychological explanation for your inability to remember all your passwords and the subsequent effect it has on your psyche. Yes, indeed, you might be suffering from password fatigue. This “disorder” can be defined as the feeling experienced by people who have to remember a large amount of passwords as part of their daily routine. This could include any password or code – from the code for your bicylcle’s lock to your pc or atm pin code. Read more on password fatigue here..

However, if you can’t remember your average 5 passwords, don’t panic, there’s hope for you yet. There’s software to help you remember on the days your grey matter struggles to keep up with all the information.

The most popular and possibly best of these is KeePass Password Safe.

KeePass is free open source software enabling you to manage all your passwords in a safe and secure manner. With this programme, you store all your passwords in one central database and lock it with only one secure master key or password. Storing your passwords in one central place behind a secure password is much safer than using the same password for all your programmes and applications, because you’re worried you might forget them!

Another additional advantage of KeePass is it’s usability on most platforms. Although it was originally intended for usage on Microsoft Windows, it can also be used with ease on Linux, Mac OS and various cell phone platforms.

The software has various functions, amongst others one able to generate passwords automatically – handy when you’ve run out of ideas for a strong password. Read more on KeePass here.

If you’re interested in other software available for password management, www.smashingapps.com has a few suggestions.Volgens `n studie wat in Augustus in die VSA uitgevoer is, het 3 uit 5 volwassenes, 5 of meer unieke aanlyn wagwoorde. (Verskillende studies het natuurlik ook verskillende opinies oor die spesifieke getal wat ter sprake is!) Dis dan ook geen wonder dat ons so sukkel om almal te onthou nie.

Daar is selfs `n erkende sielkundige verklaring vir jou onvermoë om jou wagwoord te onthou en die gepaardgaande effek wat dit op jou het. Ja inderdaad, daar is iets soos wagwoord-uitputting, of te wel password fatigue! Hierdie verskynsel word gedefinieer as die gevoel wat ervaar word deur persone wat daagliks `n groot hoeveelheid wagwoorde moet onthou as deel van hulle daaglikse roetine. Dit sluit enige wagwoord of kode in – van jou fietsslot tot jou rekenaar of otm-wagwoord. Lees hier meer oor wagwoord-uitputting.

As jy nie al 5 wagwoorde kan onthou nie, is daar egter hoop vir jou. Gelukkig is daar handige sagteware wat jou kan help onthou as jou grysstof die dag net nie meer kan byhou met al die inligting nie.

Die bekendste hiervan is KeePass Password Safe.

KeePass is gratis oopbron-sagteware wat jou kan help om jou wagwoorde op `n veilige, sekure wyse te bestuur. Jy sit al jou wagwoorde in een databasis en dit word dan gesluit met slegs een master key of wagwoord. Dis veiliger om al jou wagwoorde op een sentrale plek te stoor agter een sterk wagwoord as om dieselfde wagwoord te gebruik vir al jou programme omdat jy bang is jy vergeet dit!

Die addisionele voordeel van KeePass is tweedens sy aanpasbaarheid op die meeste stelsels. Dis oorspronklik bedoel vir Microsoft Windows, maar kan ook suksesvol geimplementeer word op Linux, Mac OS en `n verskeidenheid fone.

Die program het `n wye verskeidenheid funksies, onder andere `n funksie wat outomaties wagwoorde genereer. Lees meer oor KeePass hier.

Indien jy wil sien watter ander sagteware beskikbaar is vir wagwoordbestuur het www.smashingapps.com `n paar voorstelle.

Virtual classrooms become reality at Worcester campusVirtuele klaskamers word `n werklikheid by Worcester-kampus

Friday, November 9th, 2012

Although use of visualised desktops has been in use at the Main Campus CUAs for several years, with considerable success, smaller campuses like Tygerberg and the Business School, have been unable to adopt the technology because of the prohibitive costs of the infrastructure that is required in the background. (network and storage) However in 2012 a new company, Pivot3 entered the market with a decidedly innovative solution to provide VDI for smaller enterprises.

But what is VDI or Virtual Desktop Integration?

Wikipedia describes VDI as the storing of a “virtualized” desktop on a remote central server, so that when users work from their local machine, all of the programs, applications, processes, and data used are kept on the server and run centrally.”

VDI allows users to run an operating system and execute applications from a smartphone or “thin client” where the processing power and capacity is delivered by the server and not the user’s own computer. The most obvious benefit is that there is no longer any need for huge, power-hungry and expensive workstations or personal computers.

Secondly, the “desktops” are managed centrally and thus can be updated and patched without the need for technicians to go from computer to computer, updating and managing patches, repairing broken operating systems.

With the completion of Stellenbosch University’s Worcester Campus – the hub of the Ukwanda Rural Clinical School, the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences identified VDI as a solution to deliver “virtual classrooms” and desktops to the students and personnel based at Worcester Campus. Although the Worcester Campus can permanently accommodate 50 students, there are large numbers of “visiting” students that are hosted at the Worcester Campus. Meeting the needs and requirement of this “passing traffic” on this small campus (with a single personnel member to run the ICT infrastructure) was an enormous challenge.

Fortunately, the FMHS was introduced to the Pivot3 VDI appliance solution – a blend of highly-tweaked Dell servers and VMWare’s VMView virtualization software – being introduced at a fraction of the cost of the equivalent VDI solution running at the Stellenbosch University Main Campus – SAN/Citrix/XenDesktop.

The FMHS recognised the potential and cost-effectiveness of Pivot3’s VDI appliance solution, and purchased the first unit on the continent to be used in an academic environment.

The immediate benefit of Pivot3-VDI is that custom and standardised desktops can be delivered to students and personnel on the Worcester Campus, on demand and literally in seconds, without the need for extensive IT personnel to personally set up and configure individual computers. Old computers, laptops, tablets, Android cellphones can all receive and operate the same desktop and software.

However Pivot3 did not anticipate another possible use of their product – as a delivery mechanism for secure electronic exams! Stellenbosch University makes considerable use of e-assessment and LMS systems like WebCT/Blackboard and Moodle, but accommodating large numbers of students at the same time to write these online exams is a challenge. With a product like Pivot3, the FMHS will be able to allow students to use their own devices (BYOD) to write electronic exams, by delivering preconfigured and secure desktops on demand for the exams increasing the capacity of the FMHS for electronic exams.

Worcester Campus and FMHS is currently engaged in extensive trials of its new VDI solution, and by the middle of 2013 will have a fully deployed VDI solution for desktops and electronic exams to approximately 100 students and personnel.

ARTICLE BY DAVID WILES

Die gebruik van virtuele gebruikerskoppelvlakke word al vir `n geruime tyd met groot sukses op die hoofkampusse gebruik. Weens die hoë kostes verbonde aan die infrastruktuur kon kleiner kampusse soos Tygerberg en Belville Park nie gebruik maak van hierdie tegnologie nie.

Lees die volledige artikel in Engels hier.

[:en]Vaccinate your pc[:af]Tyd vir jou rekenaar se kuber-inenting![:]

Friday, November 9th, 2012

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Every year you have to go to your doctor to get an anti-flu injection. You have to get one every year because the influenza virus mutates and adapts every year into a new strain. Computer viruses are exactly the same! Here are a few handy tips and hints to ensure the whole process is as painless as possible. But first things first –

  • Use an AntiVirus Software – It is very important that your computer has an antivirus software running on your machine. By having an antivirus program running, files and emails will be scanned as you use them, download them, or open them. If a virus is found in one of the items you are about to use, the antivirus program will stop you from being able to run that program and therefore infect yourself.

See this link for a listing of some online/stand-alone antivirus programs: Virus, Spyware, and Malware Protection and Removal Resources

  • Update your AntiVirus Software –  There is no point running an antivirus program if you do not make sure it has all the latest updates available to it. If you do not update the software, it will not know about any new viruses, trojans, worms, etc that have been released into the wild since you installed the program. Then if a new infection appears in your computer, the antivirus program will not know that it is bad, and not alert you when you run it and become infected. Therefore it is imperative that you update your Antivirus software at least once a week (Even more if you wish) so that you are protected from all the latest threats. If you are lucky then you will have an anti-virus product that will update itself automatically via the internet, but never blindly trust this. A large number of the more virulent viruses and trojans can deactivate your anti-virus software’s updating functions.
  • Install an Anti-Spyware Program – Just as you installed and use an antivirus program, it is essential these days to use a Spyware protection and removal program. These programs can be used to scan your computer for spyware, dialers, browser hijackers, and other programs that are malicious in nature. The 4 program that I recommend are SuperAnti-Spyware, Spybot – Search and Destroy, andLavasoft’s Ad-Aware, and Windows Defender.A tutorial on using some of these programs can be found below:

Using Spybot – Search & Destroy to remove Spyware , Malware, and Hijackers

Using Ad-aware to remove Spyware, Malware, & Hijackers from Your Computer

  • Commercial Spyware Removal/Protection Programs – If you feel more comfortable installing a commercial Spyware removal program then I recommend WebRoot’s Spysweeper or Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware Professional. Both are fair products and a worthy addition to the arsenal of software protecting your computer.

Spysweeper Product Information

  • Occasionally Run Online Virus Scans – Unfortunately not all antivirus programs are created equal. Each program may find infections that other antivirus programs do not and vice-versa. It is therefore recommended that you occasionally run some free online antivirus scanners to make sure that you are not infected with items that your particular antivirus program does not know how to find. Three online scanners that we recommend are:

Every once in a while, maybe once every 2 weeks, run one or both of these scanners to see if they find anything that may have been missed by your locally installed antivirus software. Believe me, you will not regret it!

ARTICLE BY David Wiles, GERGA

For regular updates on the latest spam, malware and ransomware threats, please check or blog regularly.

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Elke jaar gaan jy dokter toe om `n griepinspuiting te kry. Jy moet jaarliks gaan omdat die virus verander en nuwe mutasies ontwikkel. Rekenaarvirusse werk presies dieselfde!

Hier is `n paar handige idees om seker te maak dat die proses so pynloos moontlik verloop. Maar eers vir die belangrikste en mees voor-die-hand-liggendste deel  –

  • Gebruik Anti-virus sagteware – Dis noodsaaklik dat al jou rekenaars een of ander vorm van anti-virus sagteware installeer het. Die sagteware sal alle programme op die rekenaar, leêrs, sowel as e-posse nagaan vir potensiële virusse. Indien die program `n virus ontdek in `n program wat jy besig is om te gebruik, sal dit onmiddellik jou toegang daarheen blok om te voorkom dat die virus versprei.

Vir `n lys van aanlyn, sowel as losstaande anti-virus programme, kyk gerus hier.

  • Dateer jou Anti-virus sagteware op  –  Jou anti-virus sagteware is heeltemal nutteloos as jy dit nie gereeld opdateer en sekermaak dat die nuutste weergawes gelaai en op datum is nie. As jy nie die sagteware opdateer nie, sal dit nie weet van die nuutste virusse, wurms en trojaanse bedreigings wat op gereelde basis in die kuberwêreld vrygestel word nie. As `n nuwe infeksie dus te voorskyn kom, sal die sagteware nie weet dat dit kwaadwillig is nie en jou nie waarsku wanneer dit op jou rekenaar installeer en dit besmet nie.
     
    Dit is dus nodig dat jy ten minste eenmaal `n week jou anti-virus sagteware opdateer (selfs meer as jy verkies) sodat jy beskerm is teen die nuutste bedreigings.  As jy gelukkig is, sal jou anti-virus produk self outomaties opdateer vanaf die internet, maar dis nie wys om dit net blindelings te vertrou nie. Maak eerder self seker dat jou sagteware op datum is. Baie van die gevaarliker virusse en “trojans” kan selfs jou anti-virus sagteware se opdateringsfunksie deaktiveer.
     
  • Installeer `n Anti-Spyware program – Net soos dit nodig is dat jy `n anti-virus program installeer, is dit ook nodig om `n anti-“spyware” program te installeer.
    Hierdie tipe programme word gebruik om jou rekenaar te beskerm teen “spyware”, “dialers”, sagteware wat jou webblaaier oorneem, sowel as enige ander kwaadaardige sagteware.
     
    Die vier aanbevole programme is SuperAnti-Spyware, Spybot – Search and Destroy, Lavasoft se Ad-Aware, en Windows Defender. Tutoriale vir sommige van hierdie programme kan hier onder gevind word:

Hoe om Spybot te gebruik – Search & Destroy vir die verwydering van Spyware , Malware, en Hijackers

 Hoe om Ad-aware te gebruik om Spyware, Malware, & Hijackers van jou rekenaar te verwyder

  • Kommersiële Spyware verwydering- en beskermingsprogramme – As jy meer gemaklik is met `n kommersiële Spyware verwyderingsprogram, gebruik WebRoot se Spysweeper of Lavasoft se  Ad-Aware Professional. Beide is goeie produkte wat waardige toevoegings is tot die arsenaal vir die beskerming van jou rekenaar. (Spysweeper-inligting)
  • Loop af en toe aanlyn `n virusskandering – Ongelukkig is nie alle anti-virusprogramme ewe goed nie. Elke program mag ander infeksies optel wat die ander moontlik nie kan nie. Daarom is dit wenslik dat jy sporadies ook gratis aanlyn anti-virus skandeerders gebruik om seker te maak jou rekenaar is nie besmet met iets wat jou eie anti-virus sagteware nie kan optel nie.  Die drie handigste programme hiervoor is:

Gebruik so elke twee weke een of albei hierdie programme om te sien of jou anti-virus sagteware iets gemis het. Jy sal nie spyt wees nie!

ARTIKEL deur David Wiles, GERGA

Vir gereelde nuus oor die nuutste spam, malware en ransomware, kyk gerus op ons blog.

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