New ResNet widget to check your usage

Are you a heavy ResNet user? You may know you can monitor your usage in MyResNet. Today we’re launching a new ResNet usage gadget for Windows, Mac, iPhone/Android, or any RSS reader. We’ve also released the source code so if you’re a programmer you could even develop your own for other platforms. Go to https://manage.resnet.bristol.ac.uk/toys to try it out.

Access the university on your mobile

Do you have an iPhone, Android device or other mobile phone with Internet access?

The university has developed a pilot Mobile Campus Assistant – go to http://mca.ilrt.bris.ac.uk on your mobile to try it out. It includes useful information when you are on the move, such as events, weather, and how many PCs are free. If your phone has GPS then you can see live bus times linked to the campus map.

Please try this pilot out, and if you can please give your thoughts via the online survey. If you’d like to see this developed further your feedback may help in moving this pilot to a service.

Free antivirus software

Has your antivirus software run out? It’s essential to have anti-virus to protect your computer, but normally when you buy antivirus software it expires and stops updating after 12 months.

Luckily there is no need to pay for antivirus software. Microsoft Security Essentials is a good anti-virus package, and even better it’s free! Download a copy from http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

Regards,

Nick Skelton, ResNet Manager, and the ResNet team.

Student Laptop Clinic

Got a problem with your computer? Running slow, can’t connect, or got a virus? The laptop clinic is here to help. Bring your laptop along and we’ll try and solve the problem while you wait. Clinics take place in The Hawthorns Student Refectory, and are currently running 2pm-5pm every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday until Friday 27th November.

See www.bristol.ac.uk/laptopclinic for more info

IT Training Courses for students

A basic level of IT skills is a must these days in most lines of work and study, and increasingly in life in general. Having more than a basic knowledge can transform your work.

To see the courses available to you free of charge visit www.bristol.ac.uk/studentskills

Be aware of Scareware – Fake anti-virus software

While browsing the web a window pops up on your computer. It looks professional and legitimate, and uses scary language claiming that your computer is infected. The message says that you should click here to download an antivirus package to fix the problem. The problem is – this is actually an advert from malicious scareware, not a legitimate warning warning. If you download it the programme can steal your information or do anything it likes on your computer. It will pester you with warnings and tell you to enter your credit card number to ‘buy’ something to fix the problem it created!

To avoid Scareware:

• Make sure your computer is up to date with essential security patches for Windows and other software. Try ’scan your PC’ at www.secunia.com to check for updates.
• Install legitimate free anti-virus software from a trusted source, such as Microsoft Security Essentials.
• Try using the free Firefox web browser from www.getfirefox.com instead of Internet Explorer.

If you get a fake scareware warning:
Don’t click on it, even on something that looks like a close button. Press Alt+F4 together to close the window.

If your computer is infected:
Wipe and reinstall your computer from your original manufacturers CDs, or come to the Laptop Clinic for help. Don’t use online banking or pay for anything online.

For more advice about safety and security online, see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/is/computing/advice/security/

If you’re arriving in Bristol this weekend, welcome! ResNet is live and ready for you to connect.

You can get online with ResNet as soon as you arrive, even if you haven’t paid in advance. You need a cable and connection guide – these are available in your residence (either in your room, or available from your hall office/senior resident). Once connected you get a seven day free trial, and can then pay online or in person at the Computer Centre, Tyndall Avenue.

It is easy to connect, but if you need help please read the Troubleshooting Tips in your connnection guide or phone the ResNet Help Desk on 89001 from your room (0117 928 9001 external). The Help Desk will be open for calls from 8am til 8pm on Monday.

Students from other universities who are visiting Bristol over the summer and staying in university accommodation can get a ResNet connection for the vacation period. See ResNet over the summer for details and an application form, then please visit the Help Desk, Computer Centre, Tyndall Avenue (8am-5.30pm Mon-Fri) to apply, from Tuesday 23rd June onwards.

Current students who are staying on longer than orginally planned can renew their ResNet subscription through My ResNet.

This is one of an occasional series of newsletters sent to ResNet subscribers. You can also read it on the ResNet blog at www.bristolresnet.net

Jobs with ResNet

Following the scheduled electrical testing at Chantry Court earlier today, ResNet isn’t working for up to 80 people at Chantry Court on floors 6-8. Those on other floors are working OK.

We’ve already been out to Chantry Court to try to fix it but weren’t successful. It looks as if part of our equipment has broken and we need to swap it for a replacement. We’re very sorry about the problem and are working to get it fixed as soon as possible, but unfortunately that won’t be until tomorrow morning (Tuesday 16th).

Update: Tuesday 16th, 09:50am
We have successfully installed a replacement switch, and service has been restored to Chantry Court.  We apologise for the inconvenience caused by this outage.

10.20am Monday 2nd February: ResNet is currently unavailable in one wing of Unite House & a few rooms of the Hawthorns. This is due to power problems over the weekend – some of the ResNet equipment didn’t come back properly when power was restored. We’re sending people out to Unite House & The Hawthorns now to get it fixed as soon as possible.

Update 11.10am: ResNet is now back on in all parts of Unite House & The Hawthorns.

We’re very sorry for the interuption over the weekend, and the obvious inconvenience caused to students in the affected areas. Although we have 24/7 help desk support we don’t have out of hours technical cover on the ground. When problems occur over the weekend they take much longer to resolve.

Are you a resident at Langford using ResNet? If so you probably need to renew your subscription for this term. Most ResNet subscriptions at Langford expire Tuesday 20th January. To check when your subscription expires you see www.resnet.bristol.ac.uk/myresnet

As Langford is many miles from the main university precinct we’ve made it easier for students at Langford to pay. Please see Sandra Sweeting at Langford during her office hours, 8am-2pm Monday-Friday. Sandra has application forms for you to fill in and can take payment by cash.The cost varies depending on which ResNet package you want and how long you are staying. The most popular options are £22 for one term or £44 for two terms.

In addition if you prefer you can also print out an application form and post it to us with a cheque, or pay at the Computer
Centre by cheque cash or card.

These are temporary arrangements – later in the year we will be introducing a new ResNet online payments system for use at Langford and elsewhere.

Microsoft have released a beta (preview) version of Windows 7, the replacement for Windows Vista. We’ve already had a few queries from students wanting to use it on ResNet. For the moment, please do not install Windows 7 on your computer and connect it to ResNet. It won’t work (the ResNet security checker won’t pass it). This beta version is not intended to be a primary operating system for everyday use. Essential updates and security fixes aren’t released or are released late for Windows 7.

We will of course be supporting Windows 7 when it is released but there is no release date for it as yet. For now if you have a real need to install Windows 7 there are other options, such as installing it on a virtual machine instead of as your main system.

Please read on for an important message to all ResNet users – even if you’ve left Bristol for the Christmas vacation.

Shortly before the end of term we had an outbreak of a nasty virus on ResNet, called DNSChanger. DNSChanger hijacks your Internet settings and redirects your traffic to malicious websites under the control of the attacker. For example, you might think you are going to Google, but actually you are going to a malicious website which will take control of your computer, try to steal your credit card numbers and bombard you with adverts. The virus spreads by passing on malicious configuration information to other computers on the same local network, like ResNet.

Even if you’ve left Bristol, please check now to see if your computer has a problem with this virus:

1. Click Start (then Run in Windows XP), then type cmd in the box. A black command window should open.
2. In the black command window type nslookup google.com
3. Something like the following should be displayed:

Server: newsapphire.resnet.bris.ac.uk

Address: 137.222.223.236

Non-authoritative answer:

Name: google.com

Addresses: 209.85.171.100
72.14.205.100
74.125.45.100

We’re interested in the numbers on the second line (137.222.223.236 in our example). If you are on ResNet then these should start with 137.222 (the range for University of Bristol). If you are at home then they could start with anything.

If the address starts 85.255 then you may have a problem. This is a block of addresses in the Ukraine which the attackers are using. Do this further check:

• Click Start (then Run in Windows XP), then type ncpa.cpl in the box.
• Under the LAN or High-Speed Internet section, right-click the Local Area Connection and select Properties.
• Highlight Internet Protocol Version 4 (for Vista) or Internet Protocol (for XP) and select Properties.
• Click Advanced…
• Click the DNS tab

If you saw 85.255 in nslookup but the DNS server addresses box is blank or has other numbers then the good news is that you are not infected (by this particular virus version). You did see 85.255 in nslookup though. This means that another computer on the same local network has passed on the wrong settings and websites you visit may not be what they appear. Shut down your computer and restart it later. Go back to the command prompt and type nslookup google.com – if the 85.255 address has gone you are now OK.

If you have any entries in the DNS server addresses box and they begin with 85.255 then unfortunately the DNSChanger virus is on your computer. Your computer is under remote control and you can’t trust any websites you visit – definitely don’t type in any credit card numbers as these will be monitored and stolen.

The only way to recover from this DNSChanger virus is to wipe and re-install your operating system from the original manufacturer’s CDs. We’ve not found any antivirus tools that can clean the system once infected (some tools do claim to clean DNSChanger, but only work against older versions, not this one). First backup any documents and other important work you need to keep, then follow the manufacturer’s instructions to wipe and reinstall. If you don’t have the original CDs phone the manufacturer – they should send you copies for a small postage charge.

General advice for all ResNet users

Before you come back to Bristol next term, please make sure your anti-virus software and Windows Updates are up-to-date. Go to Control Panel, Security Centre, and make sure everything is marked green.

Find your manufacturers recovery CDs while you are home for Christmas and bring them back to Bristol, just in case you need them.

Generally be suspicious and careful when using the Internet – is this website, email or instant message what it appears to be? If in doubt please ask. You can contact the IT Help Desk 24 hours a day, even over the vacation, on 0117 928 7870.

Update by Mark 18/12/2008

FAQs

Q1)    I have MAC OSX, does this affect my computer?

A1)    In general, OSX is unlikely to be compromised by the DNSChanger as it’s a Windows Virus but it’s possible to be using the rogue DNS servers if they were assigned to you by a compromised computer on your local network.  On ResNet requests to external DNS servers are now blocked so you’ll just have a computer that won’t connect to any web sites, including this one!

It’s a good idea to check your current DNS server settings though:

• In Finder, click Applications
• Under Utilities, click Terminal
• In the Terminal window, type one or both of the commands below until you get some information returned:

ipconfig getpacket en0
or
ipconfig getpacket en1

• Look for the domain_name_server ip address. Anything starting 85.255 is bad.