About UAB IT UAB IT Announces VMWare Academic Program availability for STEM Courses
UAB IT Announces VMWare Academic Program Access for UAB STEM Programs
The VMware Academic Program, provided as a service to the UAB STEM Community through UAB IT, accelerates instruction and research in the rapidly expanding area of virtualized infrastructure by providing faculty and students involved with science, technology, engineering, and math courses (STEM) with access to the virtualization technologies most widely used in commercial production environments. Access to the VMWare Academic Program is through an external webportal managed by UAB IT.
For more information about the program guidelines/licensing and logon instructions click here.
UAB IT Announces Online/Download Availability of Microsoft Products for Faculty/Staff/Student Home Use
UAB IT provides licensing for home-use of certain Microsoft products under our Campus Agreement. In addtion to continuing availability of Microsoft Office and Windows products through the B&N UAB Bookstore, students/faculty/staff can now download these and more Microsoft products online.
Direct link to the online store: http://uab.onthehub.com (login with your BlazerID and password). This online site also provides download availability to home-use Adobe products. Certain home-use Adobe products also continue to be available at the B&N UAB Bookstore.
For more information about the Microsoft products available under UAB's Campus Agreement click here.
TweetAlert: New Spam Campaign Discovered
UAB Information Security recently discovered a new spam campaign where users are tricked into opening an email attachment that contains a virus aimed at stealing passwords and financial information. As with any suspicious email messages you may receive, please report them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for inspection.
The recent spam email messages are crafted to look like they came from one of several legitimate companies such as Chase Bank, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Department of Treasury, Dun & Bradstreet Financial Services or a wire transfer company. You should be aware that these emails are forged and that none of the information included in the email can be trusted including embedded links, e-mail addresses or phone numbers.
Here are some of the common email subject lines we have seen in this spam campaign:
• FW: Company 2013 Report
• Incoming Wire Transfer Notification
• D&B iUpdate: Company Order Requested
• Department of Treasury Notice of Outstanding Obligation – Case ######
• Better Business Bureau Complaint Case #######
• Merchant Billing Statement
• ACTION REQUIRED: A document has arrived for your review/approval (Document Flow Manager)
TweetUAB IT Provides Updated Guidance on Microsoft Windows XP, 7, 8, Internet Explorer, BitLocker, and Mac OSX
Based on the availability of new operating system versions and browser versions, UAB IT has updated its recommendations for both Windows and Mac versions/systems. In addition, with the release of Windows 8, PGP (UAB’s encryption tool for portable/laptop devices) is not currently supported. UAB IT is recommending Microsoft’s BitLocker product for encrypting Windows 8 devices.
For details see:
Microsoft Recommended Systems/Versions
Apple/Mac Recommended Systems/Versions
Microsoft Windows 8 and BitLocker Encryption
TweetUAB IT Guidance to Mitigate Java Vulnerability - Updated April 29, 2013
UAB IT Provides Critical Guidance to Campus on Appropriate Versions of Internet Explorer, Mac OS, and Java to Mitigate Risks of Exploitation
A critical security vulnerability was recently identified in the Java software used by many browsers for accessing Internet and internal web sites. In response the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommended that all web users disable or remove Java to mitigate the risks. However, as many UAB systems require Java, UAB IT is providing guidance to the UAB Campus that will both protect the university and will provide the ability to continue accessing the required UAB systems. Part of that guidance includes using separate browsers for accessing UAB vs. non-UAB websites, and using certain browser versions and Java versions.
Windows Systems:
• On Windows 7 Install IE 9 and Java 1.7.0_21
• On Windows XP install IE 8 and Java 1.7.0_21
UAB IT has updated the minimum recommendations for versions of Internet Explorer and Java as UAB systems have improved functionality to support newer browsers and the currently secure version of Java. Internet Explorer 9 and Java 1.7.0_21 are recommended for installation on Windows 7 and IE 8 with Java 1.7.0_21 on existing XP systems. UAB IT also recommends using a separate browser with JAVA disabled for Internet use. Use IE for on campus with Java enabled and your choice of Firefox or Chrome for Internet browsing with JAVA disabled (for information on disabling Java click here).
Mac Systems:
• Install OSX 10.8 and Java 1.7.0_21
UAB IT has updated the minimum recommendations for versions of Mac Operating systems and Java as UAB systems have improved functionality that are compatible with the current version of Java. The recommended operating systems for use on Campus are Apple OSX 10.7x and 10.8x. While Apple OSX 10.6x is still supported by Apple, vendors are no longer testing against it for compatibility. Apple operating systems will not run any version lower than Java 1.7.0_21.
UAB IT also recommends using two different browsers — one for surfing the Web and one just for accessing UAB systems. For Internet Web browsing, use one of the following: Firefox Safari, or Chrome, with Java disabled (for information on disabling Java click here). For working with just UAB systems, choose a different browser and enable Java to work in it. If you run into compatibility issues with the local browser and UAB IT systems, use the IT terminal servers to access UAB resources via RDP client (for information on using IT terminal servers on Mac click here).
For more information, contact AskIT (www.uab.edu/askit).
UAB IT Announces Microsoft Dreamspark Availability for UAB STEM Programs
Microsoft Dreamspark Premium is now available to all UAB STEM programs at no cost. The Dreamspark program supports technical education by providing access to Microsoft software for learning, teaching and research purposes for faculty & students engaged in a STEM program (science, technology, engineering, math).
For more information and login instructions click here.
TweetSAS and SPSS License Renewal Information
With the change to SAS and SPSS Campus Wide licenses you will no longer receive email renewal notices. However, each product must be updated with a new license key or updated to the newest version each year. The software and/or license key is free to full-time faculty, staff and students and is available on the IT Software Library page at https://wwwsd.it.uab.edu/sdwnld. The licenses/subscriptions renew as follows:
SPSS November 30th of every year.
SAS September 30th but with a 90 day grace period will cease to function on December 31st.
Upgrades (to the latest version) and/or renewal (of the previous version) will be available on the IT Software Library page by October 30th of every year.
If you have any questions regarding this renewal and/or software, please go online to www.uab.edu/askit and submit your question(s) or request.
Campus and Hospital Email Directory Enhancements Coming November 28th
On November 28th, the UAB Campus, Hospital and Pediatrics email directories will be synchronized. This will greatly enhance individual Email address lookup, and sharing of Calendar Free/Busy information.
The directories of the three UAB email systems:
* UAB Campus (addresses ending with @uab.edu)
* Hospital (addresses ending with @uabmc.edu)
* Pediatrics (addresses ending with @peds.uab.edu)
will be exchanging information so that users of any of these systems can more easily email everyone in the UAB community regardless of which system they use. Additionally, users should be able to see free-busy calendar information for everyone in the UAB community in their calendar program.
Supported systems include Microsoft Outlook (Windows, OS X), smartphones using ActiveSync (including iPhone, iPad, and Android devices), Mail and Calendar programs on OS X, and the Microsoft Outlook Web Access web client hosted by each mail system (the UAB version is at https://mail.ad.uab.edu).
Users having a mailbox in only one of the above systems will not need to make any changes. Users having mailboxes in multiple systems will be asked to consolidate into one mailbox or work through an exception process. Consolidation is underway and users needing to consolidate are being contacted. One exception case is those Hospital or Pediatrics employees who are also students wishing to separate their work and student emails.
Those using the UAB Campus mail system will notice that phone numbers will now show standardized 10-digit telephone numbers making it easier to call campus telephone numbers from off-campus and when using supported smart phones.
Security Forum to Conduct IT Survey
The UAB Security Forum will be conducting a survey of information technology personnel across the entire campus, including UAB Hospital. A letter describing the content of the survey, and how to access it electronically will be sent to UAB leaders via email in the coming days. All employees who are being asked to complete the survey should respond as soon as possible. Questions can be directed to the Security Forum co-chairs, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , School of Medicine, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , School of Business. Additional information will be available from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , UAB Information Technology.
DROPBOX (vendor) Solicitation Not Sanctioned by UAB
UAB IT has become aware of an email solicitation effort by DROPBOX (company) targeted toward UAB faculty, staff and students that appears to indicate UAB is supporting this solicitation. Please be aware that this solicitation is not sanctioned or supported by UAB and that Dropbox is not a contracted vendor of UAB. Users are reminded that they should never utilize DROPBOX or any other similar type of service (where no contractual agreement exists between UAB and the vendor) to store any UAB confidential information. If you have questions please contact AskIT at 205-996-7227 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
