CIS@ULM Has Moved

You may notice that there isn't any activity here. We've moved the blog to cisulm.wordpress.com.

The reason we moved is that it was just too hard to get everyone on here as a contributor, so we moved to WordPress. So, we'll see you there.

Dr. Barnett

ULM launches National Cyber Security Awareness Month

(reposted from ULM Weekly Newsletter)

Using a blitz of posters, e-board Ads, and public information outlets, the Computer Information Systems Program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe has launched a student-designed effort to increase awareness of Cyber Security issues.

A group of approximately 30 students enrolled in Information Security Management (CINS 344) have mounted a campaign to inform the public that October is Cyber Security Awareness Month. Their goal is to increase public awareness of cyber-threats such as “Phishing,” password cracking, identity theft, social engineering, worms and viruses.

According to course instructor, Dr. Allen Johnston, these efforts serve two significant functions:

1. to make our community more conscious of the computer-related threats that can cripple our personal and professional activities
2. to empower ULM students to share their knowledge and expertise related to information security

Johnston said, “Our students are becoming computer security experts and have a message to share. They have taken a creative approach to spreading the word about security and are taking a proactive role in connecting with our campus and community regarding various safeguards that allow every individual to be more prepared.”

Dr. Johnston’s class offers the following awareness tips for home-based and business-related computing:

• Increase your computers’ defenses by keeping programs up-to-date
• Use difficult and unique passwords that are protected and changed monthly
• “Think first - Click later” – this simple motto may save you from opening harmful e-mail, instant messages, or pop-ups
• Protect your personal information. Remember, credible organizations never request personal information using e-mail.
• Look for the “padlock” or “key” in web page lower right corner to make sure you have secure web access

Keep kids safe on-line by knowing who they are “talking” to at all times

An interesting thing happened while checking my email...

Interestingly enough, I was going through my email and I ran across an official looking mail that came in on the one of the campus mailing lists (COIS). The email had a word processing file attached to it (.doc) that was meant to look like an invoice from an HMO.

I just let the message sit and moved on through my mail. The reason I didn't immediately rush and open it were three fold:

1. The campus mail lists have been compromised by spammers or worse in a serious way.
2. The message came from someone sending mail through a domain called "schmoozeyoulose.com". This is why I read the full address line on my emails.
3. I don't belong to an HMO.

In an later email from ZDnet (Ziff-Davis), they have this story:
Word flaw hit with zero-day attack | Tech News on ZDNet

Now I have a Trojan trapped in my inbox. So caution is the word. Remember, don't take candy or unsolicited files from strangers.

Digg for answers...Social Networks to Support Learning

Recently, the social networking site Digg.com launched it's Digg 2.0 website. Digg and social networking in general focuses on allowing people to share information online. They do this through links to online articles and content that is submitted for consideration by the Digg.com user community. The Digg site specializes in allowing users to influence the virtual headline stories for a site and to see what other individuals are reading and finding useful. Additionally, users are able to establish networks of friends and see what their friends are reading and "digging". I haven't tried, but this network of friends may also be able to see articles submitted by others in their network.

The Digg 2.0 site also allows users to customize the stories that they see. You can go on the site, select technology, specify subcategories of technology, and then read stories from all over the net that have been submitted. I found several good articles on project management, and software design patterns on my first visit. These articles come from various sources, like Wired.com and ComputerWorld, that I use to update lectures.

The combination of friend networks and customizable presentation seems like a good combination for directing students to interesting content online. I've already setup a Digg account and emailed my BMBA509 and CINS306 students with my account name, encouraging them to link to my account as a friend. My user name is DrBarnett if you would like to place me on your friend list.

How will this all work? Short answer is: I don't know. However, the service is free, and it will allow faculty and students alike to gather around a virtual watercooler to discuss issues important to our field. As the semester goes by, I'll keep you updated on how this seems to be working.

In the wee hours of the morning, I was responding to an email from the ULM public affairs director on the issue of using Podcasts in the classroom. In my email, I hit on the what and why of using podcasts in the classroom as supplementary materials. I thought that I'd share the information from this email and maybe get some discussion going on using new media in the classroom.

Right now I'm using podcasts from a series of media outlets that specializein information technology. Students in my Management Information Systemsclass (BMBA509) are required to listen to these technology "news casts" eachweek. The specific podcasts are; This Week in Tech, Inside the Net, andBuzz Outloud. The last 30 minutes or so of class each week is devoted to discussing the topics from the podcasts and their impact on business and society.

The idea to do this came to me after the debacle with Sony music installing spyware on music CDs as a form of digital rights management (DRM). I couldn't help but think, "Some group of MBA's from the biggest business schools in the world thought up or were presented that idea, and thought itwas great". Sony was hit with a number of lawsuits over this incident, and now must submit their DRM schemes to outside review. The assignment is intended to get our MBA students to understand technology better, and begin to develop a feel for it's impact.

Podcasts have two big advantages in terms of providing additional material for students. First, they are very targeted on specific interests. Producing a podcast is much cheaper than producing conventional media like tapes or television, so there are lots of them and they have excellent content. I can basically, specify a very targeted podcast show to support specific topics in class. The second advantage is that podcasts allow students to time shift their consumption of the content. The podcasts are recorded into an electronic file, that is downloaded and can be listened to or viewed at any time. This gives the student the capability of programming their own "channel", so to speak, that serves their specific needs. This creates in essence, an educational radio or TV network customized to an individual's specific interests and needs.

Other podcasts that I personally subscribe to include Oracle's TechBlast, Security Now, Security Bits, and several speical topic programs on TabletPCs, Programming, Blogging, and Web2.0. Someday soon, I hope to start producing my own content for class and special interests. Narrated slide shows and Camtasia videos are to things that come to mind for creating helpful content for our students.

So, these are my thoughts, what do you think. Any ideas?

The second Monday of the month has rolled around again, so the ULM AITP Student chapter will be meeting tonight at 6:00pm in Admin 3-45. Our guest speaker tonight is Mr. Heath Author of Pine Vally Foods. Mr. Author is a senior IT executive and an alum of the CIS program at ULM. He'll be speaking on the the process of preparing for a carreer in the IT field and can offer insight into the kinds of things you need to know to get ready for that "first job".

All faculty are invited to attend. Business Casual attire is required for the meeting.

Hope to see everyone there.

Although historical wisdom holds that conducting a two front campaign is a bad thing to do, our own Johnston family has been doing just that. Yesterday, ULM gained two new Drs. Lets all congratulate the Drs. Johnston on this major accomplishment.

In other news, next Monday at 6pm the ULM student chapter of AITP will hold their monthly meeting. Our guest speaker this month is an alum of the CIS program, Mr. Heath Authur. Hope to see everyone there.