Category Archives: Safe Computing

Visit the SafeComputing site for more information. Report a security incident. Subscribe to the Safe Computing RSS feed.

U-M requiring password reset for all UMICH (Level-1) accounts

The University of Michigan has mandated that passwords for all UMICH (Level-1) accounts be changed by the end of Sept. 12. An email informing faculty, staff and students across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses, as well as Michigan Medicine, was sent from Ravi Pendse, vice president for information technology, and Sol Bermann, chief information security officer.… Read More »

Cosign retirement success

Originally designed at U-M more than twenty years ago, Cosign was once widely used across higher education. The degree to which U-M had integrated Cosign into countless applications was a testament to its success. However, the user base dwindled at U-M and across higher ed as institutions transitioned to more modern authentication protocols (OIDC and SAML). At U-M… Read More »

Upcoming changes to Duo two-factor authentication

Duo has released a new Universal Prompt to replace their traditional two-factor authentication prompt that U-M currently uses. ITS Identity and Access Management (IAM) is planning to switch U-M Weblogin to use the Duo Universal Prompt in early 2024. Visit the Upcoming Changes to Duo page on Safe Computing to see an example.  The advantages of the Universal… Read More »

TikTok, Boom. documentarian earns Emmy nom

ITS congratulates Shalini Kantayya on her 2023 News & Documentary Emmy nomination for her documentary TikTok, Boom. This is her second Emmy nomination. Kantayya directs “fiction and nonfiction films that artfully marry the future of science with the future of story.” (shalinikantayya.net) ITS hosted a conversation with Kantayya about TikTok, Boom. for a Dissonance event earlier this year.… Read More »

Social media scams: Fake friends

“I’ve been hacked! Don’t accept friend requests from me!” Most of us on social media see that warning periodically, and while not entirely accurate, it’s a sign of how prevalent fake friend requests are. These scams are rarely a sign of actual “hacking” – gaining unauthorized access to the account itself – but they do involve a little… Read More »

Practice and encourage good digital citizenship

Whether you are sending email, participating in online discussions, or posting to social media, practicing good digital citizenship makes the online world safer and more enjoyable for yourself and others. Do your part to support online civility and promote good digital citizenship. Some practical tips are to: Refer to the following web pages for more guidance and links… Read More »

Online Safety for the LGBTQ Community

Though there has been much progress towards LGBTQ equality, this community has inherent risks online that other communities do not face. As experts in Cybersecurity, and strong LGBTQ allies, ITS Information Assurance wants to ensure those at risk of online harassment and crime have the information they need to protect themselves.

Stay alert to protect against ransomware tactics

A recent alert from the Joint Ransomware Task Force (JRTF) warns about the accelerated growth of tactics used by ransomware actors. Founded in 2022, the JRTF acts as an interagency collaborative effort to reduce the prevalence and impact of ransomware attacks and is comprised of members from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of… Read More »

Library of IT security and privacy awareness resources

The University of Michigan is committed to protecting the security of its information resources and the privacy of its students, faculty, and staff, but reaching community members with relevant and engaging information about cybersecurity and privacy can be a challenge. ITS Information Assurance (IA) has created a Library of resources to help our fellow Wolverines stay informed, create… Read More »

How to protect your identity information

The annual Identity Management Day was held on April 11 to celebrate the importance of identity management. Identity information is incredibly valuable to cybercriminals and, when stolen, can allow unauthorized access to university systems and data. According to the 2022 Ponemon Institute State of Cybersecurity Report, 54% of security incidents are caused by credential theft.  ITS Information Assurance… Read More »

New tools for SULs and Unit Security Partners

Information Assurance (IA) is committed to continually improving and streamlining capabilities, tools, and resources that support all of our shared responsibility to protect U-M systems and data. To this end, we are announcing changes to some key IA tools that will improve our unit partners’ ability to analyze and reduce security threats and risks for their units. New… Read More »

TikTok, Boom.: Watch the panel discussion, event recap

The U-M Dissonance Event Series explores issues at the intersection of technology, policy, privacy, security, and law, and seeks to increase university-wide, multidisciplinary discourse. ITS Information Assurance and Dissonance hosted a panel discussion of Shalini Kantayya’s film Coded Bias in 2021. The filmmaker’s latest documentary, TikTok, Boom., told another complex story that spurred a thoughtful and engaging conversation… Read More »

Save the date: TikTok, Boom. Watch event and discussion

ITS Information Assurance is excited to announce the latest from the Dissonance Event Series. You are invited to a free, on-demand screening of the documentary film TikTok, Boom. and a conversation with the filmmaker Shalini Kantayya. March 6 through March 15 – Virtual screening of TikTok, Boom.Join us for a virtual screening of TikTok, Boom. The film examines… Read More »

Rooting for Black women in cybersecurity

With Black History Month winding down and International Women’s Day around the corner, ITS Information Assurance (IA) celebrates Black women in cybersecurity.  In the face of racist institutional policies and segregation laws in 1940s and 1950s America, Black women, such as Annie Briggs, Ethel Just, and the Black “code girls” of Arlington Hall, blazed trails in a field… Read More »