Panopto, the service provider for Pitt Video, is requiring all users of Panopto Recorder—the software app that allows users to capture and upload video content—to upgrade to version 6.0 or later. This requirement applies to the Windows, Mac, and Remote Recorder app effective Thursday, July 18.

We encourage you to download the most recent version of Panopto Recorder now by completing these steps:

1. Log in to http://pi.tt/pittvideo
2. Click Download Panopto in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
3. Follow the instructions to download Panopto Recorder.

If you do not upgrade Panopto Recorder to version 6.0 or later in advance, you will be prompted to upgrade the first time that you open Recorder on or after July 18.

Please contact the Technology Help Desk at 412-624-HELP (4357) if you have any questions regarding this announcement.

Dell has announced a security vulnerability in troubleshooting software called SupportAssist that comes pre-installed on its home and business PCs. The vulnerability could allow an attacker who successfully exploits it to gain administrative privileges to the computer.

The following versions of SupportAssist are affected:

• Dell SupportAssist for Business PCs version 2.0
• Dell SupportAssist for Home PCs version 3.2.1 and all prior releases

Please note that Dell computers managed by Pitt Information Technology do not include SupportAssist and are not affected by this vulnerability.  

Dell recommends that users immediately install the security updates necessary to remediate this vulnerability. If automatic updates are enabled, Dell SupportAssist should automatically upgrade to the latest version. Users can also download the update manually from the following links:

Dell SupportAssist for Business PCs

• https://downloads.dell.com/serviceability/Catalog/SupportAssistx64.msi
• https://downloads.dell.com/serviceability/Catalog/SupportAssistx86.msi

Dell SupportAssist for Home PCs

• https://downloads.dell.com/serviceability/catalog/SupportAssistInstaller.exe

In addition, Pitt IT recommends that all students, faculty, and staff install Antivirus (Symantec Endpoint) and Anti-Malware (Malwarebytes) Protection. Both are available at no cost through the Software Download Service. Departments can submit a help request to obtain Malwarebytes for multiple machines.

Please contact the Technology Help Desk at 412-624-HELP (4357) if you have any questions regarding this announcement.

Pitt Information Technology is aware of a new email phishing scam that claims the University is performing emergency maintenance to migrate accounts, email, and Symantec Endpoint Protection. Recipients are asked to reply to the email and provide their University Computing Account username and password. The scam may include a forged “From” address that appears to originate from the Technology Help Desk.

Below is a sample of the recent fraudulent email. If you receive this message (or any message similar to it), please report it as a phishing scam by forwarding the email message as an attachment to phish@pitt.edu. Detailed instructions on reporting scams are available at our phishing awareness page.

******************************************************************************

From: Pitt IT <helpdesk2@pitt.edu>
To: <pitt email address>
Subject: [#87900190]: Phishing Campaign / Migrating My Pitt Account / Quarantine Exercise.

Technology Help Desk - University of Pittsburgh | Phishing Campaign.
Attention: University of Pittsburgh | My Pitt & Email Account User.

Dear Madam/Sir,

University of Pittsburgh Technology Help Desk will be performing an emergency systems maintenance which includes Updating/Migrating Accounts, My Pitt & Email Symantec Endpoint Protection Communication to a new SPAM filtering service which will improve Barracuda Spam Firewall Email Security Overview and the ability to identify and block Spam / Phishing attempts and other undesirable messages that flood our email system / server on a daily basis. We have seen a recent uptick in phishing, and we want to alert you to follow the resources available to protect yourself.

University of Pittsburgh Email Account Users may see the Symantec Endpoint Protection Windows notification pop-up during the update kindly ignore.

What is required?

You are to re-confirm your University of Pittsburgh Email Account Login Details as requested below for Migration, Quarantine Exercise and Protection against SPAM by clicking your REPLY button and replying to this email as follows. (This will confirm your University of Pittsburgh Email Account login/usage Frequency):

Please be informed that we will delete any University of Pittsburgh Identity, Account, MyPitt & Email Users account that does not adhere to this notice IMMEDIATELY as part of our (Inactive Accounts | Barracuda Spam Firewall | Email Security Overview) and clean-up process to enable service upgrade efficiency.

Confirm your Existing University of Pittsburgh Pitt Passport:

* Username: {  }
* Password: {  }
* Email ID:{  }

Enter Your Last Login Date:

Important: You must completely exit your web browser when you are done accessing services that require authentication, otherwise your login will remain in effect.

The above request has been opened for you:

Request No. [#87900190]

Subject: [#87900190]: Phishing Campaign / Migrating My Pitt Account / Quarantine Exercise.

Please do not hesitate to provide the above requested information. By confirming the above-requested details, you have abide by University of Pittsburgh Electronic Communications Policy.

Sincerely,

Technology Help Desk
University of Pittsburgh
Computing Services and Systems Development (CSSD)   

Help Desk | University of Pittsburgh | 4200 Fifth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15260 Copyright of University of Pittsburgh . All rights reserved.

******************************************************************************

Pitt Information Technology encourages you to keep in mind the following email best practices:

• Pitt Information Technology will never request your password in an email message. Any message containing such a request is a scam.
• Use caution when interacting with messages that have been quarantined by the University’s Enterprise Spam and Virus Filter. Messages stopped by the filter have been quarantined for a reason and are more likely to be malicious. You can safely preview messages within your Spam and Virus Message Center by selecting the message and clicking the Preview message button.     

• Pitt IT strongly recommends that you do not reply to unsolicited emails or emails from unverifiable sources. Avoid clicking on links contained in such emails, as these may lead to sites that contain malicious software. If a link looks suspicious, you can hover over the link with your mouse to preview the URL without clicking on it.
• In addition, Pitt IT recommends that all students, faculty, and staff install Antivirus (Symantec Endpoint) and Anti-Malware (Malwarebytes) Protection. Both are available at no cost through the Software Download Service. Departments can submit a help request to obtain Malwarebytes for multiple machines.

Please contact the Technology Help Desk at 412-624-HELP (4357) if you have any questions regarding this announcement.

There will be an extended outage of Lynda On-Demand Training from 6 a.m. on Tuesday, July 9, through midnight on Tuesday-Wednesday, July 9-10. The system will be unavailable during this period, as Lynda is upgraded to LinkedIn Learning, but will return earlier if work is finished ahead of schedule.

LinkedIn Learning merges the best parts of Lynda.com and LinkedIn, providing additional benefits for users, including:

• Unlimited access to thousands of courses in business, technology, programming, professional development and creative topics
• Personalized content recommendations based on your skills, job role(s), and interests
• Collections that you can administer, organize, share, and assign to other learners
• Convenient access through your web browser or on-the-go with the LinkedIn Learning Mobile App

Beginning July 10, Pitt Users can sign in to LinkedIn Learning through myPitt. Pitt users with previously active Lynda accounts will receive email with additional information directly from LinkedIn Learning.

Please contact the Technology Help Desk at 412-624-HELP (4357) if you have any questions regarding this announcement.