Security Bulletin
of January 8, 2007

Overview
Who is Affected

Recommended Actions

Administrative Users
Academic and All Home Windows Users
Academic and All Home Macintosh Users
Tips for Safer Computing
Further Assistance

Other Bulletins
Recent CERT Alerts

ADMINISTRATIVE Staff: If you use a computer at HOME, please read on.

STUDENTS, FACULTY, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, ACADEMIC STAFF AND ALL HOME USERS must follow the recommendations below.

I. OVERVIEW

Windows Defender (Beta 2), which we recommended in several security alerts last semester, expired December 31, 2006. If Windows Defender informed you that an update is available, you have yet to install Windows Defender at all, or you received the error message

Application failed to initialize: 0x800106ba.
A problem caused Windows Defender Service to stop.

upgrade to the current version. Instructions are below.

II. WHO IS AFFECTED?

WINDOWS COMPUTERS with Windows Defender (Beta 2), as well as those without anti-spyware software.

III. RECOMMENDED ACTION - ADMINISTRATIVE USERS ON CAMPUS

Administrative Computing will upgrade systems in Administrative Offices, but you must upgrade your home systems. Please follow the recommended actions for Window or Macintosh home systems.

IV. RECOMMENDED ACTION - STUDENTS, FACULTY, ACADEMIC STAFF, and ALL HOME WNDOWS COMPUTER USERS

Windows Defender is a free program that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software. Windows Defender (Beta 2) expired December 31, 2006. Upgrade now to the final release of Windows Defender. If you do not yet have anti-spyware on your computer, you also must install Windows Defender.

Instructions and software are available from http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/

V. RECOMMENDED ACTION - STUDENTS, FACULTY, ACADEMIC STAFF, and ALL HOME MACINTOSH COMPUTER USERS

Macintosh users are not affected by this alert.

VI. PRACTICE SAFER COMPUTING ALL THE TIME

Always follow the guidelines to Protect Your Computer at http://www.haverford.edu/acc/protect/.

VII. FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE

Students, faculty and academic staff please contact Academic Computing:
Telephone: 610-896-1480
Email: helpdesk@haverford.edu
Web: http://www.haverford.edu/acc/helpdesk/
In Person: Stokes 204 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday and until 9am to 9pm on Tuesdays.

Administrative staff please contact Administrative Computing:
Telephone: 610-896-1355
Email: admincc@haverford.edu

VI. MORE INFORMATION

Additional information about computer security and current threats can be found at the following sites:

United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT )

<http://www.us-cert.gov/nav/nt01/>

McAfee Avert Threat Center

<http://www.mcafee.com/us/threat_center/default.asp>

Microsoft Security

<http://www.microsoft.com/security/>

Apple Product Security

<http://www.apple.com/support/security/>