Here’s the takeaway from last week’s malicious spam attack: Be very careful about what attachments you open.

• Is an attachment expected and from a reliable source? It's probably OK.
• Is it unexpected and (apparently) from a reliable source? Be skeptical, and if you have any doubt, check independently with the sender before clicking or opening the attachment.
• Is it unexpected and you never heard of the source? Then don't click. If you think there's a chance it's legit, check with the apparent sender by some independent method. Otherwise, just delete the thing.

Need more advice about a message or attachment? You can always contact IT Express by phone, (530) 754-HELP (4357) or email.

Last week’s attack, which started the morning of June 3, involved an attachment identified as Document.zip. Information and Educational Technology advised in a TechNews posting: “Don't click on the message or its attachment. Just delete them.” Dateline UC Davis posted a story with a similar warning.

The Office of Strategic Communications put up a banner message on the UC Davis home page, advising people not to open .zip file attachments.

Campus email filters and other anti-virus systems reduced the damage. However, security officials described the spam attack as a “zero-day exploit,” meaning it was the first time this particular attack had surfaced.

Email delivery slowed as tech personnel worked to block the attachment. IET declared at 3:36 p.m. that “the immediate problem” presented by the malicious spam attack on campus email had been resolved and that email delays had ended.

IET fully resolved the issue the next day.

Forty-five minutes is all it takes to greatly reduce your odds of getting mugged online. That’s the length of the core videos in a training program available to all employees. Read more.

Fall Diversity Awareness Workshop

The Office of Campus Community Relations announced the 2015 Fall Diversity Awareness Workshop. Led by outside consultants, the workshop is for staff and faculty members who are committed to building an inclusive campus community, and for those who would like an introduction to multicultural and diversity issues in a safe and open environment.

Two sessions are scheduled, each running 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Tuesday. The first session is set for Aug. 24-25 and the second for Aug. 31-Sept. 1.

The organizers will select participants from among people who indicate their own interest in attending, and from among people who are nominated by others.

More than 700 members of the campus community have participated in the workshop since its inception in 1993.

“The goal of the program is to foster greater understanding of diversity among faculty, staff, and students by providing a safe atmosphere for campus members to discuss important issues related to diversity, equity and community,” said Rahim Reed, associate executive vice chancellor who leads the Office of Campus Community Relations.

“As our campus continues to grow, these types of dialogues become even more meaningful to ensure that we are creating a campus environment that fosters diversity and inclusiveness.”

Participant information forms are due by Friday, July 24. Confirmation letters will be sent to the people who are selected; people who are not selected will be placed on a waiting list and notified if and as space becomes available.  

Questions? Contact Lindsey Gillespie via email or phone, (530) 752-2071.

Health-wellness needs assessment closes Friday

You have only a few more days to state your preferences for the kinds of activities you would like to see in a comprehensive UC Davis employee health and wellness program.

The needs assessment for staff and faculty is available online until 5 p.m. Friday (June 12).

The data collection is for the UC Davis Staff and Faculty Health and Wellness Committee, coordinated by Staff Assembly. The committee is working on recommendations to present to the university administration.

“Comprehensive health and wellness programs are a proven ‘win-win’ that result in cost savings for the employer and a healthier, happier work force,” said Stacey Brezing, committee chair and Staff Assembly board member. “We have received a great response and many positive, helpful comments since the assessment was emailed last week, and we look forward to hearing from even more staff and faculty at all UC Davis locations.“

Here's the link to the needs assessment. Questions? Send them by email to the committee.

More information about the assessment and the committee.

UC Davis has a 'Best Children's Hospital'

U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” rankings for 2015-16, posted online today (June 9), recognize UC Davis for its work in five pediatric specialties.

UC Davis Children’s Hospital ranked 17th in neonatology, 33rd in diabetes and endocrinology. and 45th in neurology and neurosurgery, and, together with its long-standing partner, Shriners Hospital for Children-Northern California, 29th in orthopedics and 20th in urology.

“We are so pleased to have expanded our national rankings this year with U.S. News & World Report and applaud our UC Davis Children’s Hospital staff — the doctors, nurses, technicians and our teams who deliver world-class care for children in the Sacramento region and beyond,” said Ann Madden Rice, chief executive officer of the UC Davis Medical Center and its children’s hospital. “It’s our privilege to share this recognition with Shriners Hospital. Our partnership continues to strengthen our region as a whole.”

Read the complete news release.

Committee named to assist in Berkeley Lab director search

UC President Janet Napolitano last week announced the appointment of a committee to help in a national search for a new director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, managed by UC for the U.S. Department of Energy.

The committee consists of regents, faculty, administrators and Berkeley Lab senior scientists. See the list of members in the complete news release.

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