WannaCry: what 91�Թ� community should know about the malware attack

ullahnor — Mon, 15 May 2017 21:45:51 +0000

ullahnor Mon, 05/15/2017 - 17:45

Cutline

91�Թ�'s information security team is scanning the university networks to identify unpatched equipment (photo by Jason Krygier-Baum)

Malware

computer

internet

WannaCry

Currently, no incidents of malware have been reported to 91�Թ�'s information security team since the WannaCry attack began on Friday.

WannaCry targets unpatched Microsoft Windows computers and then locks the machine’s contents from the user – pending the payment of a ransom amount. WannaCry propagates by identifying and infecting other unpatched machines on a network.

Read 91�Թ� Professor Deepa Kundur's Op-ed on WannaCry

What 91�Թ� is doing:

Defences are in place at multiple network locations/gateways to block incoming attacks.

The information security team is constantly scanning the university networks to identify unpatched equipment, primarily using outdated and unsupported operating systems such as Windows XP, and to notify appropriate administrators about the need to patch the devices.

What you should do:

Be careful with e-mail messages. Do not open any messages with offers that are too good to be true. Beware of messages from the CRA about your income tax refund for example, or banks asking for your credentials, or to have you open an attachment.
Keep your devices up-to-date. Install security updates and patches, particularly those identified as being “critical.” Consider ALL your devices, not just machines used at work.
Maintain backups. The existence and integrity of data and system backups is critical to protecting your data and maintaining availability in case of a compromised device. If you are unsure as to whether your devices are backed up, check with your local IT team.

For additional information and support, please contact your local IT team. Additional resources are available from the information security department and at the security awareness site.

Federal budget supports digital literacy and work-integrated learning: 91�Թ� engineering has had success with these programs

ullahnor — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 19:30:05 +0000

Federal budget supports digital literacy and work-integrated learning: 91�Թ� engineering has had success with these programs

ullahnor Thu, 03/23/2017 - 15:30

Cutline

Teachers from the Toronto District School Board attend a robotics and computer coding workshop hosted by 91�Թ� Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering in February 2016 (photo by Tyler Irving)

Topic

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

The 2017 federal budget earmarks $50 million over two years for Teaching Kids to Code, a fund that supports teaching initiatives in coding and digital literacy across the country, and includes new investments in work-integrated learning. Both are areas where 91�Թ�'s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering has a track record of success.

Teaching Kids to Code

“To give our young people the best possible start, we will promote hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, and math, especially for young women, girls, and Indigenous youth,” said Finance Minister Bill Morneau in his speech to Parliament.

Learn more about coding workshops at 91�Թ� Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Teaching Kids to Code will enhance activities such as coding workshops from 91�Թ� engineering’s outreach programs. Aimed at providing both students and teachers with new tools to integrate programming, robotics and digital literacy into their classrooms, these workshops reach hundreds each year.

“Demand for talent in science and technology will only continue to grow in the coming decades,” said Dawn Britton, associate director of engineering outreach at 91�Թ�. “Outreach activities are critical in ensuring that the STEM fields attract talent that reflects the full diversity of Canada.”

Britton was on Parliament Hill for the announcement along with Jennifer Flanagan, CEO of Actua, Canada’s leading science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) youth outreach network. 91�Թ� engineering and Actua have partnered with Google to deliver Codemakers, which aims to transform the way youth engage with computers and build digital literacy through hands-on learning.

“For 25 years we have focused on engaging the hardest to reach youth, including girls and Indigenous youth, and we are thrilled that the government’s innovation agenda is focused on skills development and inclusivity,” said Flanagan in a statement.

In 2015–2016, 91�Թ� engineering engaged more than 9,000 pre-university students through pioneering programs, including:

Innovate U – Canada’s largest STEM event for children in Grades 3 to 8. This one-day workshop, held last May, was run in partnership with Google Canada and Actua, and attracted more than 1,400 students and teachers from across the GTA.
Coding Workshops – Delivered in partnership with Google and Actua, coding workshops will provide students in Grades 3 to 6 with the opportunity to develop their own set of codemaking abilities through a variety of in class activities.
Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program (DEEP) Summer Academy – Since 2003, DEEP has provided highly motivated high school students with an aptitude for science and math with opportunities for advanced study in a variety of engineering, technology, business and science disciplines.
Jr. DEEP and Girls' Jr. DEEP – Modelled on DEEP Summer Academy school students, Jr. DEEP offers courses on cutting-edge topics in science, technology and engineering with an emphasis on hands-on learning.

Innovative programming, combined with strategic recruitment initiatives, has contributed to continued enriched diversity at 91�Թ� engineering among both students and faculty. This year, the first-year undergraduate class included more than 40 per cent women, the highest proportion in Ontario. This increased the overall proportion of women across all 91�Թ� engineering undergraduate programs to more than 30 per cent.

In the past 10 years, the number of female faculty members has more than doubled, from 21 to 55. 91�Թ� engineering is a key partner in advancing Engineers Canada’s ‘30 by 30’ objective: 30 per cent female representation among newly licensed engineers by 2030.

computer

WannaCry: what 91�Թ� community should know about the malware attack

Read 91�Թ� Professor Deepa Kundur's Op-ed on WannaCry

Federal budget supports digital literacy and work-integrated learning: 91�Թ� engineering has had success with these programs

Learn more about coding workshops at 91�Թ� Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Read more about 91�Թ� and the federal budget