A few weeks ago, OIT announced that a new phone system will begin to be deployed over the next year. As part of this announcement, we informed you that there would be two different phones provided to the SMU community. After continued testing of the features and functionality of each phone, we have decided to go with just one primary device for all employees. That model is the AudioCodes 445HD.
Continue reading AudioCodes 445HD to be Primary Phone for Campus
Now in our fourth month since the kickoff of the phone replacement project, we wanted to provide the university community an update on the progress. The current phone system at both Dallas and Plano campus locations has been active since the early 90’s. The phone replacement project will deliver new network-based phones to all SMU faculty and staff while modernizing aging campus infrastructure in support of the new phones and calling features. Continue reading Behind the Scenes: An update on the Phone Replacement Project
OIT has launched a project to replace the current campus telephone system in service for the last 25 years.
The current phone system has served the SMU Dallas and SMU Plano campus locations since the early 90’s, but it does not support SMU-in-Taos. Although the system is historically reliable and stable, it has become costly due to the steady rise in annual support and maintenance expenses. The need to lower overall operational costs is one of many factors driving system replacement. Continue reading SMU Phone Replacement Project: Upgrading campus infrastructure and telephones
Although many SMU users appreciate the ability to receive missed call notifications and voice mail recordings and transcriptions via their email, several users have expressed a preference for checking voicemail “on the phone,” including those in public settings who enjoy the added security of listening to personal messages using a handset or mobile phone. Here is how to use both: Continue reading You Can Still Use Your Phone to Check Voicemail
Members of the SMU Community have reported a number of phone calls in the last several weeks attempting to gain access to your computer. Usually, these callers will indicate that they have “noticed” that your computer has been infected with malware and will helpfully offer to fix it for you while on the phone. The caller will direct you to a website and request that you download software to help fix your PC, but you will actually be downloading malware. This will usually lock your computer and the person will require you to pay hundreds of dollars to unlock it.
Don’t believe it when you get a phone call from somebody claiming your computer has been hacked.
Don’t believe it when the caller says he or she is from Microsoft or Dell, or from software security company McAfee or Norton, telling you they can remove the infection by remote control.
It’s a fraud, and if you do believe it, the scammers will take over your computer and blackmail you to pay a fee or have your hard drive deleted. And they are likely to infect your computer with real malware, opening you and the University to identity theft.
Usually, caller ID shows up as a “private caller,” but even when a callback number shows, it’s likely to lead to a non-working number, which is why the FTC has so much trouble shutting down these scammers. The below voice mail is an actual example of the voice mail that one such hacker left on an SMU Voicemail:
Transcript of audio:
Good morning my name is Jacob and I’m calling you from PC Solutions and this call is in regards to your computer.
The main reason behind this call is to make you aware about the online infections that have got inside your computer from the Internet recently. We have been receiving error notifications from the centralized server of Windows. That is the reason this awareness call has been initiated to you today. If you can be in front of your computer right now I can show you where the infections are hidden inside your system.
Is it possible for you to be in front of computer right now?
Please contact the IT Help Desk at 214-768-HELP with any questions concerning viruses, or malware, or call like the one described above.
IT Connect is published by the Office of Information Technology at Southern Methodist University. 
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