Welcome back! And please change your password.

 eduBuzz, Information security  Comments Off
Nov 132012
 

As you probably know, eduBuzz was rebuilt in case it had been “hacked” after some unusual files were spotted on the server.  We’ve done everything we can to minimise the risk of future trouble, but now we need your help.

To make the site as secure as possible, we need you to change your password. Please choose a good, secure one – not just a word that can be found in a dictionary!

Here’s a simple guide to creating secure password from Edinburgh University. http://www.inf.ed.ac.uk/systems/security/password.html

 

 

 

 

Encrypted pendrives – warning!

 Information security  Comments Off
Aug 192011
 

 

A recent unfortunate case of a teacher forgetting her encrypted pendrive password has flagged up an important point.  If you have to reset your password then all data on the pendrive will be erased.  You have 10 chances to type in the password and will be given a warning when you have 5 chances remaining.

IT policy guidance states… 

  • USB memory sticks must only be used for short term access to files. As soon as you have finished with the data make sure you move it back to our central servers. This also ensures your data is backed up regularly

Take care, a few minutes extra work can save a lot of heartache. Make sure you set yourself a Password Hint also.

 

Are you blogging more than you think?

 Digital literacy, Information security, WordPress  Comments Off
Apr 212010
 

Ooops a daisy! Photo by duncan on Flickr, used with permission.

Could you be accidentally publishing images, documents and other files to the web? 

You could be if you forget that all uploaded files are on the web, not just those you’ve chosen to use in your posts.  And those files can be surprisingly easy to find.

Here’s an example to explain.

Yesterday, a commercial publisher asked for permission to reuse an excellent photo, taken about 3 years ago, which they’d found on an Edubuzz blog. There’s nothing unusual about that: there are now over 8000 images on the site. What was unusual, though, was that the school involved didn’t think they’d used the photo on the blog.

So what was happening?  Read on to find out. Continue reading »