Getting a new computer is fun, but don't let that shiny new computer smell distract you from protecting your information. Lots of people don't realize that getting rid of their old computer (or mp3 player, cell phone, USB drive, or PDA...) doesn't mean their data magically disappears. Data stays on that device unless you take specific steps to remove it--and it could wind up in the hands of people you don't want to have it.

Here's a great way to ensure nobody else gets your data:

Have you ever sat down and given serious thought to the kinds of data on your computer? What if your computer "grew legs?" What if your system was compromised by a hacker or virus? Would Personally Identifiable Information (PII) be exposed?

It's easy to get caught up in our day-to-day workloads and never get around to stopping and thinking about the kind of data we handle. Being aware of the kinds of information you encounter during your work and how to handle it protects everyone's privacy.

A proof-of-concept exploit tool as well as the accompanying research paper have come out that tell how to crack the commonly used WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) 104-bit protocol. Previous research and exploits have shown that the lower 40-bit was a piece of cake to crack, but now the higher 104-bit is under fire.

All this can be yours--just send your name, address, SSN, mother's maiden name, and blood type to...

Despite its name, "pretexting" doesn't really have anything to do with text messages. It is a far more insidious practice involving people obtaining your phone records under false pretenses. The practice was made infamous by the Hewlett Packard executive spying scandal of 2006.

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has published new rules for telephone companies regarding how they handle your telephone records. How do these rules affect you? Here's how:

Short, simple passwords that use dictionary words are so easy to crack it's like not having a password at all. The more complex your password is, the safer your private information will be. The question one must ask is this: how do I craft a strong password?

First off, let's talk about what a strong password doesn't contain:

Keeping tabs on your credit report is an excellent way to make sure your identity is being used by the person that's supposed to be using it--YOU. Thanks to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you may request a free copy of your credit report once every twelve months from the "big three" credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Last year during the month of April, the IT Security Office and the Privacy Office collaborated to bring about greater information privacy and security awareness at KU. Below are links to the materials that were sent out to the university community.

Please feel free to distribute these fliers in electronic or paper form! Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the files.