Kategorie: ‘IT-Security’
Safer Internet Day 2023
![Logo SID23](https://blog.rwth-aachen.de/itc/files/2023/01/Logo-SID23-300x204.jpg)
Source: Safer Internet Day
Whether at work, at university, or during leisure time – the Internet and digital devices have become an omnipresent part of everyday life for the majority of people. We surf the internet from anywhere, at any time of the day. The question that arises though is: How safe is our use of the new media actually?
Numerous studies have repeatedly shown that many users massively underestimate the dangers associated with the use of new media. Year after year, the press reports on numerous cyber attacks in which the naivety and ignorance of users often lead to serious consequences. There is consensus among experts on one point: the most effective way to strengthen IT security is to raise awareness and train each individual user. This is exactly what the global Safer Internet Day (SID) campaign aims to do. Read the rest of this entry »
Change-Your-Password-Day
![Keyboard, notepad with password "12345" and combination lock on black background](https://blog.rwth-aachen.de/itc/files/2022/12/passwort-tag-300x169.jpg)
Source: Freepik
Today is the official “change-your-password-day”. We would like to take this opportunity to once again draw attention to the importance of password security and have prepared a few tips for you.
Because hand on heart – when was the last time you changed your passwords?
Protecting the HPC account with MFA
![https://www.itc.rwth-aachen.de/cms/it-center/IT-Center/Profil/Team/~epvp/Mitarbeiter-CAMPUS-/?allou=1&gguid=0x592B0D17C73A1249AC2C233FADF6EE96&lidx=1](https://blog.rwth-aachen.de/itc/files/2023/01/ODHMJQ0-1-300x300.jpg)
Protection of the HPC account
Source: Freepik
At least a little less than a dozen of Europe’s supercomputers were taken offline simultaneously in May 2020. Several university centres in Europe have been attacked by hackers and had to go offline. The unknown perpetrators hacked the accounts of the users in order to gain access to the supercomputers. Fortunately, our high-performance computer was not affected, but JURECA, JUWELS and JUDAC at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre, Hawk at the Stuttgart High Performance Computing Centre and the supercomputers at the Leibzig Computing Centre (LRZ), for example, fell victim to the attack.
5 Tips on How to Keep Your Mobile Devices Safe
They keep us connected at all times and in all places. They accompany us everywhere, wake us up, remind us of important appointments and provide us with entertainment. We are, of course, referring to smartphones. What was originally intended as a means of communication is now a calendar, camera, photo album, pocket watch, navigation device, pedometer and game console all in one. Even as most-used devices for Internet access, mobile devices have long since surpassed desktop computers. Smartphones are the very top of the list.
Mobile devices are practical everyday helpers, but they also hold a large amount of personal data, such as bank and credit card information. It is not uncommon for these end devices to even be used for two-factor authentication for bank transactions and other services. This makes them a popular target for hackers. With a few tips, you can effectively protect your mobile devices and the data stored on them. Read the rest of this entry »
New Year’s IT Resolutions
![Notepad with title "New Year's Resolutions" and human figure leaning on pencil](https://blog.rwth-aachen.de/itc/files/2022/12/6294768-1-300x200.jpg)
Source: Freepik
We all know it: At the end of each year, many people think about things they want to change or improve in the coming year. Some people want to finally take the plunge into the gym, others are determined to learn a new language, and others are planning to eat healthier. But what about resolutions in the IT sector? You haven’t dealt with that yet? No problem! The following suggestions will help you out a little bit.
Automated SSL certificates for hosted websites
![Graphical representation of a web page](https://blog.rwth-aachen.de/itc/files/2022/12/21902028_6500504-1-300x231.jpg)
Source: Freepik
Finally, the time has come. Since December 06, 2022 hosted websites are automatically converted to “https” and provided with corresponding SSL certificates. The best thing about it? You don’t have to worry about anything anymore. Read the rest of this entry »
Threat Hunting – Tracking Down Threats
![Illustration of a laptop with a magnifying glass. The magnifying glass makes security incidents visible.](https://blog.rwth-aachen.de/itc/files/2022/12/IT-Center-Blog-Threat-Hunting-300x169.png)
Threat Hunters uncover security risks before they are detected by the system.
Source: Own illustration
After sneaking into a network, attackers can remain undetected for months, collecting data, searching for sensitive material, or acquiring credentials. They can then use this information to roam around the IT infrastructure, to observe it and to snatch even more data. The more data is tapped, the more severe the consequences of the attack may be. To identify such attacks as early as possible, a good defence strategy is essential. An important part of such a strategy is so-called Threat Hunting. Read the rest of this entry »
Computer Security Day: 5 Simple Tips to Improve IT Security
For most people, life without the Internet has long been unimaginable. Whether at home, at work or anywhere along the way – information technology is simply everywhere. However, its ubiquity also raises the question of its security. A question that experts already asked themselves back when the Internet had only just begun to develop. Since 1988, November 30 has been dedicated to IT security in many countries. The aim of this event is to raise general awareness of IT security and to educate users on the subject. To mark the occasion, we have compiled five very simple tips for more IT security in everyday life.
Beware of Meeting Invite Phishing Scam!
The way we work together has changed fundamentally in recent years. Among the major changes is the shift of work processes to the home office. Not only have everyday tasks had to be shifted into virtual space, but also the entire communication process. This is how online meetings and video conferencing became a central part of our working lives. The digitization of these work processes brings many benefits. However, it also confronts many companies and organizations with major challenges. One of these challenges is the drastic increase in cyber attacks. As is so often the case, Internet fraudsters have taken advantage of the new situation and quickly developed a variety of new types of fraud methods. These include, for example, phishing attempts via appointment invitations.
TSM Backup “Read Only”
![Cup with text](https://blog.rwth-aachen.de/itc/files/2022/11/A_20220413_153957-233x300.jpg)
Source: Own illustration
Attention!
As part of the backup transition 2022, a new platform for data backup and recovery has been built at RWTH Aachen University in the last months. Together with the manufacturers Hitachi Vantara and Commvault, the backup team of the IT Center has set up a new backup infrastructure, which in the future will not only provide the RWTH, but also other universities in NRW with the Datensicherung.nrw service.
In this context, we are gradually saying goodbye to the previous backup solution, the “TSM backup”.