Dial-Up to SMES Conflicts

If you have ever used Dial-up to SMES and have changed to another Internet Service Provider (ISP), you may have problems with Internet Explorer and Outlook/Outlook Express. The conflict arises when you logon to SMES and a file is created in your Windows folder called, "Hosts". This Hosts file is not to be confused with the Hosts.sam file which is only a sample. The Hosts file is created to enhance access to our servers through the Local Area Network (LAN).

If you do change your ISP from SMES, you will need to modify the C:\Windows\Hosts file by opening it in any test editor (Notepad, Word Pad, Word, etc.) and delete all lines that refer to 10.10.1.2, 10.10.1.4, and 10.10.1.6.

Does this all sound Greek to you? If so, just remember to call the Help line when you change from SMES to Cox, AOL, etc., or provide the ISP technician with a copy of this article.

Happiness Anyone?

I was joking with my colleagues about putting a recipe section into this newsletter. It was merely a joke; however, after the past few stressful weeks of school starting, retreats, Back to School Night, and the tragedies of the WTC and Pentagon, I found this from a recent Dear Abby column. Maybe it might be good just this one time.

Why All the Network Security?

Many of you may wonder why a place like SMES needs filtering software (Igear) and new passwords annually? These are legitimate concerns in a world where our freedoms seem to diminish a little each day. But the reality is that technology, while providing valuable services in many parts of our lives, can also wreak tremendous damage when security has been breached. Thus, it is the security of the entire network, not the integrity of the individual, that is the utmost concern of Technology.

In an article entitled, "Internet Security Training for Employees" 
[http://www.urlabs.com/article.cfm?articleid=613&PID=na], 38% of people responding to a 1999 Computer Security Institute/FBI computer Crime & Security Survey said there were between 1 to 5 security breaches happening inside the organization. Another 16% indicated that they had 6 to 10 breaches. And most of these breaches were the result of untrained employees who had little or no idea how their use of a computer, whether by email or the Internet, affected the organization's security.

According to this article, "passwords are a major vulnerability in most enterprises. It's not unusual for people to try to save time by sharing passwords or choosing a simple password. Weak passwords make it easy for unauthorized users to gain access." An even more vital link to network security is not so much passwords but the user. A carefree attitude towards passwords is what social engineers are banking on to "trick" a person into inadvertently giving out password information.

The next time you get upset about the inconveniences of logging into Igear, or your students are complaining about not being able to get to a website for their research, or you're asked to change your password, please understand it has less to do with the trust of an individual and more to do with safety and security of an entire organization. 

Technology Training Opportunities

For those of you new to St. Margaret's, we'd like to introduce our Technology staff. 

Lynn Ozonian                Director of Information Technology
Chuck Jones                 Systems Specialist
Cheryl Henderson        Web Technology Specialist
Dianne Bauer                 Database Specialist
Londa Posvistak           Technology Instruction
Lani Sevelle                   Technology Instruction
Nicki Yokota                   Technology Lab Aide
and last, but certainly not least, please come to the MS Lab to meet our newest hire,
Bryan Harney                   Technology Lab Aide