Making Windows 8 Feel Like Windows

By Robert Burkett

If you bought a new computer in the last 6 months to a year, it probably came with Windows 8 pre-installed. For those who have been using Windows for any length of time, it’s likely been a frustrating experience to navigate compared to all previous versions of Windows. If your new computer is not touchscreen, it makes even less sense. You may get used to it, or you may scream… either way, there is hope to make it feel more like Windows.

A couple add-ons from www.classicshell.net with their Classic Start Menu and Explorer really help bring back that familiar environment that you can’t live without. I suspect Microsoft will eventually add these features within Windows 8 with future updates, but until then (or not), the Classic Shell is more than sufficient.

Physical Security

by George Finney

Physical Security – Technology can only help us so much when it comes to protecting University owned assets. People are always our first line of defense. This means not leaving your laptop unattended at a coffee shop or in your car overnight. It also means locking your filing cabinets at night or putting sensitive files back into a locked cabinet when they are no longer needed.

Online Training is available for SMU faculty and staff in Courses.SMU.

For more information about Information Security and Security Awareness Training, visit smu.edu/infosec.

Faculty and Staff—Work at Home Software

microsoft-apple

by: Rachel Mulry

Did you know that faculty and staff can purchase select Microsoft and Adobe products at a significantly reduced cost for a home computer? The following titles are available: Microsoft Office 2011, Office 2013, Windows 7 (upgrade), Windows 8 (upgrade), and the full Adobe Creative Cloud suite. This software is only available while you are an active Faculty or Staff member and must be removed when you leave the University.

To purchase your copy, visit http://smu.onthehub.com. You will need to register using your SMU email address in order to receive the discount. Please note: the Help Desk has several copies of Office 2011, Windows 7 and Windows 8 for purchase. These are at a reduced cost and available while supplies last.

For more details, visit http://www.smu.edu/BusinessFinance/OIT/Services/SoftwareLicense

Sensitive Information

by George Finney

The University requires a large amount of sensitive information in order to keep running. From needing banking information in order to pay employees or requiring social security numbers in order to provide loans to our students, this information is necessary for our day-to-day business. Just remember: if you don’t need it, don’t ask for it. If you do need it, be mindful of where the data is going when it leaves your hands.

For more information about Information Security, visit smu.edu/infosec.

Password Protection

by George Finney

Password Protection – For accounts that may give you access to sensitive information, you should have a stronger password than personal accounts like Facebook. If you suspect it has been compromised or shared with someone else, change it! SMU requires you to change your password every 6 months just in case your password has been compromised and you don’t know it, but you are always the best judge of how to protect your password.

For more information, visit smu.edu/infosec.