News

Announcements

September 5, 2024

Overview

Every Windows product has a lifecycle, and that lifecycle ends when it no longer receives security updates or fixes, software updates, and/or technical support. On October 14, 2025, Microsoft will discontinue support for the Windows 10 Operating System. Without security patches, these systems will be easy targets for hackers, malware, and viruses.

October 8, 2021

Why Claim Your Subnets?

Because then you will get those fun and cheerful security notices! Yay!

Seriously, ISO monitors all campus IP address space.  When we find a problem we notify the Security Contact that claims the subnet so they can fix the problem.  If we cannot contact anyone, and the problem is serious, we will block the IP Address.  Now you have to troubleshoot a connectivity issue without knowing the underlying reason and you still have a serious security issue.  

October 4, 2021

UC has learned that names, Social Security numbers, and other personal information of some members of the UC community may have been used in attempts to open unauthorized bank accounts at financial institutions such as Chime and Go2Bank. Some of these UC community members are receiving emails from these institutions asking them to confirm a new account by clicking on a link in the email. It is unclear how personal information was obtained to open unauthorized accounts.

September 9, 2021

The UC Office of the President has notified us that UC employees received an email yesterday from WEX Health (formerly Discovery Benefits) alerting them to a change in the profile information in their online WEX account. You do not need to respond to their message. This change was made in error and is being corrected. Please note that the error is not the result of a security breach and UC employee data has not been compromised.

November 4, 2020

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in the Google Chrome browser, the most severe of which could allow for arbitrary code execution. We recommend immediately updating your Google Chrome browser to Version 86.0.4240.183

October 21, 2020

Google has released Chrome version 86.0.4240.111 to apply security fixes, including a patch for an actively exploited zero-day vulnerability. We recommend that users patch immediately. Normally updates happen in the background, but if you haven't closed your browser in a while, you might see a pending update

August 13, 2020

Every Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) product has a life cycle and that life cycle ends when it no longer receives security updates or fixes, software updates, and/or technical support. On Nov. 30, 2020 Red Hat will discontinue support for RHEL 6. Campus policy requires that devices connected to the network run software for which security patches are made available and installed in a timely fashion. After support ends, RHEL 6 will no longer be in compliance with campus policy.

June 23, 2020

Why "Fight the Phish"?

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created several new cybersecurity risks in the form of phishing attacks, scammers have used this method for as long as the internet has been around to trick people into giving up sensitive information. To assist in mitigating these risks to campus, the Information Security Office created Fight the Phish,” an awareness campaign to help educate our campus users on ways to identify, avoid, and report phishing attacks. 

April 30, 2020

Zoom V. 5 is available for download

The newest version further addresses issues related to security and privacy

Specific changes include these user experience/controls

  • Security icon: Zoom’s security features are now grouped together and located in the "Security" icon in the host's meeting menu bar.

April 2, 2020

Zoom has released new version updates that resolve issues related to security and privacy: Windows ver. 4.6.19253.0401 and MacOS ver. 4.6.19273.0402.

We recommend that users patch immediately. Both updates are accessible for manual download through the desktop-client:

  • Open the Zoom application on your system and select “Check for Updates...” from the zoom.us drop-down menu

March 9, 2020

Attackers have been sending emails that feed on concerns about COVID-19 to spread malware, trick them into sharing account credentials, or opening malicious attachments.

January 28, 2020

On Mar. 23 CalNet fully depreciated TLS 1.0/1.1.

On Mar. 23, CalNet disabled TLS 1.0 and 1.1 protocols from being used to access CAS, Shibboleth, CalGroups, CalNet Account Manager, and LDAP. 

TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are insecure and vulnerable to attacks which risk the integrity and authentication of data sent between client and destination. Disabling these protocols will mitigate these issues, adhere to campus policy, and to protect institutional data and IT resources. 

January 27, 2020

We have become aware that identity thieves are calling individuals on campus via landline or cellular devices asking for personal information. Remember to be vigilant and careful about protecting your personal information.

We work very hard to protect our voice network; however, attackers may try to use a technology called spoofing to trick you into giving up information.  Spoofing is the practice of deliberately falsifying the information transmitted to your caller ID to pretend to be someone else.  

January 20, 2020

With the California Consumer Privacy Act taking effect this year, data privacy will become a central issue for businesses in 2020. Consumers conduct much of their lives on the internet, yet few understand the critical issue of privacy and how their personal information is used, collected and shared by businesses. Your data can be stored indefinitely and used in both beneficial and unwelcome ways.

January 6, 2020

What's Data Privacy Day?

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November 13, 2019

We are excited to announce some organizational developments and opportunities to work with us.

Recently ISO underwent a structural reorganization. This new structure allows us to continue to evolve and respond to challenges in the information security space, to streamline operations, and to create additional efficiencies. Vacant positions will be posted shortly to jobs.berkeley.edu and to our website.

November 12, 2019

Even outside the traditional "Holiday" season we find ourselves purchasing items online. And so, it's good to remember online shopping best practices year round. In addition to our holiday shopping tips, here are a few others to keep you safe while online shopping: 

November 6, 2019

There will be some changes coming to information security policies at Berkeley brought on by a major update to the UC systemwide information security policy (IS-3). The revision brings sweeping changes to the way information security risk is handled on Campus. 

September 5, 2019

NCSAM Champion Logo

This October, UC Berkeley is once again joining other universities, the National Cyber Security Alliance, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help raise cyber security awareness during National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM). 

August 5, 2019

File-sharing can heighten risks to you and the University. As an Internet Service Provider (under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act), UC Berkeley does not monitor its networks for the purpose of discoveringillegal activity. However, we act to make sure that Copyright, especially as it applies to digital assets, is respected within the Campus community.