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[:en]The end of Windows 7[:af]Die einde van Windows 7[:]

Wednesday, December 4th, 2019

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After 10 years support Windows 7 came to an end on 14 January 2020.

How does this affect you?  

If you still use Windows 7, after January 14 your PC will no longer receive security updates or technical support from Microsoft. Subsequently your PC will pose a threat to the university’s network and we might have to remove it from the network in future for security reasons. This also means that you data will be unprotected, and you could potentially have no access to the network (in other words, no internet, email, etc.)

Therefore, if your PC is still running on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 you will have to upgrade to Windows 10, an operating system which can provide the latest security updates to keep your data safe.  You can read more on Microsoft’s software life cycle on their site. 

Upgrades from Windows 7 & 8.1 to Windows 10 will be free for staff. To request this upgrade, please log a request on the  ICT Partner Portal (Windows 7 to Windows 10 upgrade) after which you will automatically receive and email. Please include the following information in the request: 

  1. the computer’s asset number
  2. device type
  3. contact numbers
  4. building name
  5. room number

Your device will be checked for an upgrade possibility as older equipment may need components for the upgrade, and this will be for the account of the department. There might also be a possibility that very old equipment or devices that do not meet the minimum requirements will not be able to be upgraded.  

If any other actions are needed, an IT technician will also contact you. 

IT will do the following without charge: 

  1. Guide you with work related data to be backed up to OneDrive
  2. Upgrade the operating system from Windows 7 & 8.1 to Windows 10 
  3. After the upgrade a technician can assist with if needed: Installing of non-standard campus related software such as SPSS, Statistica, etc., install printers.

You will have to pay for: 

  1. Backups of all data if and IT technician has to do the backup
  2. Hardware components necessary for the upgrade to Windows 10 

If IT is requested to backup data, the cost will be as follow: 

Less than 15GB – R1310-00 
More than 15GB – R2240-00 

Relevant articles on the end of Windows 7: 

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Na tien jaar het ondersteuning vir Windows 7  tot ’n einde gekom op 14 Januarie 2020.

Hoe gaan dit jou beïnvloed?

Na 14 Januarie sal jou rekenaar nie meer enige sekuriteitsopdaterings of tegniese ondersteuning van Microsoft ontvang nie. Weens die sekuriteitrisiko wat jou rekenaar op die universiteit se netwerk plaas, kan dit in die toekoms van die netwerk verwyder word. Dit beteken dat jou data nie meer effektief beskerm kan word nie en jy ook moontlik geen toegang tot die netwerk sal hê nie  (m.a.w. geen internet, e-pos, ens).

Indien jou rekenaar steeds gebruikmaak van die Windows 7 en Windows 8.1 bedryfstelsels, moet jy so gou moontlik opgradeer na Windows 10, ’n bedryfstelsel wat wel die nuutste sekuriteitsopdaterings kan verskaf om jou data veilig te hou. Lees meer oor Microsoftprogrammatuur se lewensiklus op hulle webwerf.

Opgraderings van Windows 7 & Windows 8.1 na Windows 10 sal gratis vir personeel gedoen word. Om die opgradering aan te vra, teken asb ’n versoek aan op die ICT Partner Portal (Windows 7 to Windows 10 upgrade) waarna jy `n e-pos sal ontvang. Verskaf asseblief die volgende inligting:

  • die rekenaar se batenommer
  • tipe toestel
  • kontaknommers
  • gebounaam
  • kamernommer

Jou rekenaar se spesifikasies sal nagegaan word vir `n moontlike opgradering aangesien ouer toerusting komponente mag benodig vir die opgradering en dit die departement se onkoste sal wees. Dis ook moontlik dat baie ou toerusting wat nie aan die minimum vereistes voldoen nie, dalk nie opgradeer kan word nie. 

’n IT-tegnikus sal jou kontak om verdere reëlings te tref indien nodig.

IT sal die volgende gratis doen:

  1. Lei ten opsigte van die rugsteun van werkverwante data na OneDrive
  2. Die bedryfstelsel opgradeer van Windows 7 & 8.1 na Windows 10
  3. Na die opgradering kan `n tegnikus help met die volgende indien nodig: Installasie van nie-standaard kampusverwante sagteware, bv. SPSS, Statistica, ens, sowel as die installasie van drukkers.

Jy of jou departement betaal vir:

  1. Rugsteun van alle data.
  2. Hardeware komponente benodig vir die opgradering na Windows 10

Indien IT versoek word om die data te rugsteun, sal dit teen onderstaande koste gedoen word:

Minder as 15GB – R1310-00
Meer as 15GB – R2240-00

Relevante artikels oor die uitfassering van Windows 7:

 

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[:en]Protect your equipment against power outages[:af]Beskerm jou toerusting teen beurtkrag[:]

Sunday, March 31st, 2019

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By now we’re used to the unpredictable nature of our electricity supply and started making changes to ensure our daily routine can continue in spite of it.

But have you considered the effect these irregular power surges might have on your appliances at home and the office? To ensure you don’t suffer any serious damage, there are a few measures you can take.

the-light-bulb-371652_6401. Regularly check the load shedding schedule.
This is important since you can’t protect your appliances if you’re not sure when power will be shut down. There are various ways to do this, including Eskom’s Twitter feed, website, as well as various apps. 

2. Switch off and unplug
Before scheduled load shedding, turn off and unplug or disconnect all your electrical appliances. By doing this, you will avoid a sudden strong surge of power to your device which could damage sensitive electronic circuitry.

It is also important to unplug computer power cables from plugs, as well as telephone cables.

3. Use surge protectors
As mentioned above, power surges could damage your appliances. To prevent this, you can also fit plugs equipped with surge protectors which will lessen the surge. Just remember, even if you use surge protectors, it’s still safer to unplug devices entirely.

4. Get a power bank
These useful little things are portable chargers which you can charge your phone and any other USB device with. With their help, you won’t be stuck without your cell phone or tablet while the rest of the world is shrouded in darkness.

They are readily available at online stores like Takealot and are not that expensive considering the convenience.

5. Get a UPS
A UPS or Uninterruptible Power Supply functions as a surge protector, but with also has a built-in battery, and can provide a constant power output for up to an hour. A UPS is merely a backup system to buy you time to protect appliances and save data. 

6. Backup
Backing up your data shouldn’t be done only when load shedding is prevalent. It should be part of your weekly routine. If you know load shedding will take place, do regular backups while working or before the scheduled power outage. This will ensure you don’t lose important work.

 

[SOURCE: www.eskom.co.za, www.mg.co.za, www.fin24.com, www.mweb.co.za, www.property24.com]

 

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Teen dié tyd is ons al gewoond aan die onvoorspelbaarheid van ons kragtoevoer-situasie en het ons reeds aanpassings gemaak in ons daaglikse roetines om dit te akkommodeer.

Maar het jy al gedink watter impak onverwagse kragvloei op jou huis- en werktoestelle het? Om te verseker dat jy nie onnodig skade ly nie, kan jy ‘n paar maatreëls tref.

the-light-bulb-371652_6401. Gaan gereeld die beurtkragskedule na
As jy nie weet wanneer die krag afgaan nie, gaan jy nie toerusting betyds kan beskerm nie. Daar is verskeie plekke om die informasie te bekom – Eskom se Twitterrekening, webwerf, sowel as verskeie toepassings. 

2. Skakel af en ontkoppel
Voordat geskeduleerde beurtkrag plaasvind, skakel al jou toestelle af en trek dit by die muurprop uit. Sodoende voorkom jy dat `n skielike sterk stroom na jou toestel vloei wanneer krag herstel word, en sensitiewe elektronika beskadig.

Dit is veral belangrik dat rekenaarkabels, sowel as foonkabels, uit muurproppe verwyder word. 

3. Gebruik oorspanningafleiers
Soos ons hierbo genoem het, kan skielike sterk strome jou toestelle beskadig. `n Ander metode om dit te voorkom, is om proppe toe te rus met oorspanningafleiers (surge protectors), wat die sterkte van die stroom sal demp.

4. Kry `n kragbank
Hierdie handige klein toestelletjies is draagbare laaiers wat gebruik kan word om jou foon en enige ander USB-toestel te laai. Sodoende sal jy nie gestrand wees sonder selfoon of tablet as die res van die wereld in donkerte gehul is nie.

5. Kry `n UPS
`n Ononderbroke kragbron of UPS vervul dieselfde rol as `n oorspanning afleier, maar met die ekstra funksionaliteit van `n ingeboude battery. Dit verskaf deurlopende kragtoevoer vir `n maksimum van een uur. `n UPS is bloot `n rugsteunstelsel om jou genoeg tyd te gee om jou toestelle en data te beskerm.

6. Rugsteun
Rugsteun van data behoort nie uitsluitlik gedurende beurtkrag te gebeur nie – dit behoort deel te wees van jou roetine. As jy weet dat beurtkrag onafwendbaar is, rugsteun en stoor deurlopend jou werk of ten minste voordat die kragonderbreking plaasvind. Dit sal verseker dat jy nie belangrike werk in die proses verloor nie.

 

[BRONNE: www.eskom.co.za, www.mg.co.za, www.fin24.com, www.mweb.co.za, www.property24.com

 

 

 

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[:en]Defeat ransomware: Backup your data[:af]Fnuik ransomware: Rugsteun jou data[:]

Wednesday, July 5th, 2017

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The destructive Petya ransomworm caused destruction and major interruptions of services around the world last week. Unfortunately, it’s becoming progressively more difficult to avoid these attacks as cybercriminals become more clever and inventive in their methods. While there are ways to prevent that you fall prey to such an attack, there’s one thing you can do which will ensure that you are safe. And it’s not technical or difficult to do.

Once a week, backup all your data. Yes, this is a menial, boring administrative task – and we all hate those, but by ensuring that your data is safe and sound elsewhere, it won’t matter if your PC is infected by ransomware or any other malware. If you do lose your data, you will have another version available. 

Here are a few quick tips to help you:

  1. Choose one day a week which suits you and make an appointment in your diary to do a weekly backup.
  2. Try not to overwrite your previous backup. Rather make consecutive copies in various folders on your external hard drive or on your network space and name each with the particular day’s date. If any of the documents become corrupt for some reason, you can always fall back on a previous version.
  3. Regularly check that the medium on which you made your backup is still in working order and you’re able to access your documents.
  4. Use more than one backup medium, for example, your network space AND an external hard drive.

Where should you backup data?

  1. Each staff member has access to his/her own network space (usually the h-drive) where you can save an allocated amount of data for free. You have 1GB at your disposal to backup your most critical documents. At an extra cost of R10-00 per 1GB this space can also be increased. This network space is also available via the web at storage.sun.ac.za if you find yourself away from the SU network. 
  2. On your departmental network space (usually the g-drive). The departmental drive can be used for files used by more than one person and 15GB is allocated to each department. SharePoint can also be used by groups for sharing documents.
  3. OneDrive allows each staff member 5TB of storage space. This is available via the Office365 suite. https://portal.office.com/
  4. If you choose to have your data close at hand, get yourself an external hard drive. Never save important data on a flash drive – its sole function is for transporting data from one device to another and is not a dependable medium for backup. Just ensure that these devices are stored somewhere else (not also in your office) or in a safe. If confidential, SU documents are kept on an external hard drive, files have to be protected with a password or encrypted. Keep in mind that if you lose the password, not even IT can salvage your data.
  5. Alternatively, you can save data in the cloud. We’ve already mentioned OneDrive, but GoogleDrive or Dropbox are also examples of this. It is extremely important that cloud storage is only for personal use, not for any academic information or sensitive data. Also keep in mind that if you use more than one device, you have to sync data across devices and this will incur costs.

More tips on backups, as well as activating Windows’ automatic backup function on www.backblaze.com.

 

 

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Die vernielsugtige ransom-wurm Petya het laasweek verwoesting regoor die wêreld gesaai en vele kritiese dienste onderbreek. Ongelukkig raak dit toenemend meer moeilik om hierdie tipe aanvalle te vermy, aangesien kuberkriminele slimmer raak en al meer inisiatief aan die dag lê. Hoewel daar maniere is om te voorkom dat jy in die ransomware-slaggat trap, is daar een ding wat jou sonder twyfel sal beskerm. En dis nie te tegnies of te moeilik om te doen nie.

Rugsteun jou data eenmaal ʼn week. Ja, dis ʼn vervelige, sieldodende, administratiewe taak en ons almal haat admin ewe veel – maar deur net dit te doen, verseker jy dat jou data veilig is. Selfs al word jou rekenaar oorgeneem deur ransomware of enige ander malware, het jy ekstra weergawes daarvan beskikbaar elders.

Hier is ʼn paar vinnige wenke om jou te help:

  1. Kies een dag in die week wat jou pas en skeduleer ʼn afspraak in jou dagboek om ʼn weeklikse rugsteun te doen. 
  2. Probeer om nie oor vorige rugsteundokumente te skryf nie.  Maak eerder opeenvolgende kopieë in verskeie vouers op jou eksterne hardeskyf of netwerkspasie met elkeen se datum as beskrywing. Indien enige van die dokumente korrup word, sal daar altyd ʼn vorige weergawe beskikbaar wees. 
  3. Gaan gereeld jou rugsteun-medium na en maak seker dat dit nog in ʼn werkende toestand is en jy toegang tot jou dokumente kan kry. 
  4. Gebruik meer as een rugsteun-medium, byvoorbeeld jou netwerkspasie EN ʼn eksterne hardeskyf. 

Waar moet jy jou data rugsteun?

  1. Elke personeellid het toegang tot sy/haar eie netwerkspasie (gewoonlik die h-skyf) waar jy ʼn vasgestelde hoeveelheid data gratis kan stoor. Jy het 1GB tot jou beskikking om die mees kritiese dokumente te stoor. Die spasie kan ook vermeerder word teen ʼn ekstra koste van R10-00 per 1GB. Jou netwerkspasie is ook beskikbaar via die web by storage.sun.ac.za indien jy nie op kampus is nie.
  2. Departementele netwerkspasie (gewoonlik die g-skyf). Die departementele netwerkspasie kan gebruik word vir leêrs wat deur meer as een persoon gebruik word en 15GB word aan elke departement toegeken. SharePoint kan ook deur groepe gebruik word om dokumente te deel.
  3. OneDrive bied 5TB stoorspasie per personeellid. Hierdie diens is beskikbaar via die Office365 suite. https://portal.office.com/
  4. Indien jy verkies om jou data naby te hou, kry vir jou ʼn eksterne hardeskyf. Moet nooit belangrike data op ʼn flitsskyf stoor nie – die enigste doel daarvan is om data van een toestel na ʼn ander te skuif. Dis nie ʼn betroubare rugsteun-medium nie. Maak ook seker dat jou rugsteun-mediums elders gebêre word of in ʼn kluis (nie in jou kantoor nie). Indien jy US-dokumente op ʼn eksterne hardeskyf stoor, MOET dit met ʼn wagwoord beveilig word of enkripteer word. Hou ook in gedagte dat indien jy die wagwoord verloor, IT nie jou data weer sal kan opspoor nie.
  5. Laastens kan jy ook jou data in die wolk stoor. OneDrive is een voorbeeld van wolkberging, maar GoogleDrive of Dropbox is ander opsies. Wolkberging is slegs vir persoonlike gebruik en nie vir enige akademiese of sensitiewe data nie. Onthou ook dat, indien jy meer as een toestel het, jou data op alle toestelle sinkroniseer moet word en kostes noodwendig betrokke is. 

Vir meer wenke en hoe om Windows se outomatiese rugsteun-funksie te aktiveer, lees gerus op www.backblaze.com.

 

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