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Show Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Page 3 StatesmanCstmpus News IT protecting USU computers from hackers By SETH R.HAWKINS editor in chief In a world with no concrete borders, being a digital border patroller can be difficult, but that's the constant challenge for USU IT Services, which sees several attacks to the USU network a minute, said Miles Johnson, USU IT security specialist. While protecting USU's cyber world may not be as physically demanding as the work done by the USU Police, it still requires tactical knowledge and skill to prevent viruses from spreading, confidential information taken and identities stolen, Johnson said. The work done by IT security to protect students' computers may not save lives, but it does save students money, he said. //Depth Part 4 of 4-part series on campus safety "(Computers are) things that people invest a lot of time and money in, so they become emotionally attached to them," Johnson said. "It's not like losing an arm or something. It's not like being exposed to asbestos and suffering a lingering death 20 years later. In the grand scheme of things, it's very easy to survive having your computer hacked and your identity stolen." But ensuring the safety of USU's network and the computers attached to that network is a challenge, as attackers come up with new methods to sneak by USU's defenses and accomplish their purposes, Johnson said. "We see all sorts of behaviors, it's like there's this dozens or hundreds of techniques that are in use all the time " Johnson said. "If this stuff wasn't blocked at the border, it would find boxes and take them over. We're attacked several times a minute and these are attacks that would be effective if we didn't have a defense. They would take over computers, take away equipment, take over peoples' identities, they would spread viruses, they would do all kinds of things." Chad Mano, a computer science professor who teaches a course on cyber security, said universities are big targets for hackers, which is why USU gets attacked frequently. "Universities have a lot of information," Mano said. "USU is no different. We have personal information, social security numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers and lots of other information people might want. In addition, universities have a lot of money (not as much as we would like though). All of these things makes USU and other universities targets. One thing that is unique, however, is that we also store grades. I'm sure there are some students out there who would be happy to have a better grade in a class or two." Johnson said hackers attack USU's network typically "with the goal of making money off it somehow." And it may be surprising who is behind many of these attacks. Johnson said a good portion of the attacks USU experiences come from countries whose governments don't punish hackers, or even support them, citing members of the Eastern European block like Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Turkey. The goal of these attackers is to find a way to steal credit card numbers, passwords, user names, hard disk space on USU's network and tapping into USU's fast network, he said. "There are a few places in the world where you can normally expect people will attack you from their own computers," Johnson said. "Either because there are no repercussions or their ISPs are in on it or because their government is in on it. That's their job to hack people and it's a respected profession because it brings foreign money into the economy." Another common attacker USU sees is the Chinese government, Johnson said. But they aren't directly after money, he said, they're after knowledge. USU isn't the only university that experiences these attacks from China, as other universities in the world have the same problem, he said. "Over the years, they've made an ongoing, continuous aggressive effort to get into USU and use our resources to access every bit of research data we have. Everybody knows they're doing it," Johnson said. "Reporting it does no good. It causes them to develop better techniques if you report it." But attacks don't necessarily mean a successful hack of the USU network. Johnson said the USU IT team has a system that continuously monitors the online traffic that goes in and out of USU to prevent an attack from becoming a successful exploit. This information is displayed on a series of monitors that give a visual representation of traffic - both regular and attacks. When a new attack is seen, which looks like moving Xs on the monitor, the USU IT security team analyzes the pattern and type of attack and then works on a way to stop the attack at the firewall to prevent a similar attack from happening in the future, Johnson said. On another screen, called the dark net, the USU IT team interprets a constantly updating stream of IP addresses and ports being used into useful information about potential attacks. Despite vigilance by the IT team, occasionally attacks are successful and compromise computers on the USU network, Johnson said. The last most successful virus outbreak at USU was about a month ago when about three or four dozen USU students had their computers [ I See COMPUTERS, page 3 MILES JOHNSON shows the computers used to track those who try to hack into the USU network. Certain patterns appear when someone is trying to get into the system and when someone actually does. Universities are often targets for hackers because they store so much information and USU is one of those hit often, said Chad Mano, computer science professor who teaches a class on cyber security. On average, nine attacks per day get by the firewall and router, and these attacks are analyzed by USU IT Services to prevent it from happening again. Statesman file photo. Autism awareness focus of new group By MONICA SWAPP staff writer The new Health Occupation Student Association (HOSA) chapter at USU is heading the Aggies For Autism Campaign this year, which focuses on autism awareness and raising funds for research, said Brad Anderson. HOSA has teamed up with USU program Autism Support Services Education Research Training (ASSERT) and the organization Autism Speaks for the campaign, he said. , Upcoming events for the campaign include an autism benefit concert on April 25 sponsored by ASSERT dnd promoted by HOSA, Anderson said. The concert will be at 8 p.m. in the Conference Center Auditorium with tickets for $5 and it will feature performances by Dave Eaton, Corey Mon and the Starlight, and Nate Pyfer from Code Hero, Anderson said. On May 3, the USU Aggies for Autism Walk-a-Thon will be held at Cottonwood High School by HOSA chapters from all over the state of Utah and anyone who wants to walk in support of autism awareness can join, he said. Autism is the fastest-growing disability category in the U.S., one in every 149 children are born with autism nationally and one in every 133 children in Utah, Anderson said. It strikes boys more than girls, and there is a 4 to 1 ratio among males and a 7 to 1 ratio among males in Utah, he said. Since 1998 there has been a 900 percent jump in school enrollment of children with autism, which has a significant impact on the school system, the economy and teaching methods, he said. "I didn't know how prevalent it is, three children per hour are diagnosed nationally," Anderson said. The autistic community is in crisis because of the increase in autistic children and the dramatic impact it has in individuals and families, said Jocelyn Taylor, autism and education specialist for the Utah State Office of Education. The cause of autism is unknown, and people have tried many fads, such as specific diets or exercise to prevent autism in their future children, but none have been successful, Anderson said The focus right now is not to find a cause or a cure of autism but the help with the outward manifestations of it, Anderson said. The best way to treat autism right now is through education and changing behaviors that are socially inappropriate, Anderson said. This process is called applied behavior analysis, and it takes basic behavioral principles from the lab and uses them to improve the human condition, he said. The ultimate goal is to find a cause and a medical cure for autism through funded research, but until that point, behavioral change is a good step, Anderson said. "We change the world through awareness. Our awareness shows we care, and caring gives us the power to change the world," Anderson said. Appropriate intervention can change lives, without it, people with autism are likely to be unsuccessful and a drain on social systems and families, Taylor said. College students will be change agents for the future, and awareness of autism at this point has the potential to impact workforce and policy involved. She said it isjmportant that they are aware now in order to make a difference in the future. "I love people with autism, they have provided me with some of my most tender memories and they have given my professional life purpose. All the help we can give them is greatly needed," Taylor said. •monica.swapp@aggiemailusu.edu Fundraiser: Builds bakery [1 continued from page 1 communications in the country, including setting up press offices for each area of the government and revamping journalism laws. Cole said while she was in Sierra Leone, her branch president came up with the idea to build the new bakery. "We went to church and people were starving to death, literally," Cole said. "I started buying rice to feed people but I was spending a lot of money. I thought, 'what can we do to give jobs to these people?'" The Rock Band competition was also part of the Rock for Rolls fundraiser Monday. The winners, a band called Neesh, beat 11 other bands and earned 1,694,000 total points on expert for their final song. Neesh, a group of high school students from Mountain Crest High School, had senior Zen Hale on guitar, junior Sam Spencer on vocals, junior Cass Christiansen on drums and freshman Shem Hale on bass. Neesh will get their names on a list for an event in Los Angeles hosted by Shine on Sierra Leone, Whittier said. He said the July event will be a red carpet affair with another Rock Band competition attended by about 30 celebrities, including A^l Rose^artcTKanye West. Troy Oldham, ^public relations professor, said Aggies for Africa, Shine on Sierra Leone, a group from USU's sociology department and several public relations students have all helped in making the bakery project and Monday's event a reality. Oldham said the public relations students involved used the event for theirfmal senior project. —They've been responsible for planning and executing the public relations side of it, but they were more involved than most public relations students would have been in the planning," Oldham said. "Coy (Whittier) and his group have done such a good job." Aggies for Africa is a USU club but also a nonprofit organization, Whittier said. "It's run by students, created by students," he said. "That's the cool part about it. It's a bunch of students just working to raise awareness across campus in the student aspect of things, but we've also planned a bunch of projects." Whittier said Aggies for Africa and USU students will be traveling to Rwanda for three weeks in May to do research for another microfinance project. "What the project will do, it'll give out loans to refugees from the war in Congo so they can start Speak U p "It's run by students, created \ by students. That's the cool part about It." Coy Whittier, Aggies for Africa President businesses, education, stuff like that and then-they pay those loans back," Whittier said. "We're meeting with government officials, other organizations, and a university provost in order to start a relationship there." Aggies for Africa has weekly meetings where they discuss and plan events, Whittier said, and anyone who would like to get involved can send an e-mail to standusu@ gmail.com. "We want to open people's eyes to what is going on and empower them to do something," Whittier said. "We want students to use the talents they have and use the skills they're learning at USU in a positive way." 'rach.ch@aggiemaiiusu.edu Briefs Campus & Community Concert to benefit autism program Salt Lake City musician Dave Eaton is bringing his music to USU on Friday, April 25, in an effort to raise money and awareness for autism. Dave will be joined by Cory Mon & the Starlight, and Nate Pyfer (from Code Hero) for an evening of acoustic rock performed at the Eccles Conference Center Auditorium. Dave Eaton is a popular musician performing throughout the Wasatch Front and he also works with adults with autism. The benefit show begins at 8 p.m. and admission is $5. All proceeds will be donated to ASSERT, an Autism Support Services program at USU. Autism is the fastest growing disability category in the United States. This year 1 of every 149 children born in Utah will have Autism. The ASSERT program provides support and training for preschoolers with autism as well as their families, teachers and other school personnel throughout the state. Dr. Tom Higbee, director of the ASSERT program will be available at the benefit concert to answer questions about the program. More information about ASSERT can be found at http://sped.usu.edu/ assert. For more information about the benefit concert or the ASSERT program contact Tami Pyfer at 7977567, tami.pyfer@usu.edu. Bear Lake project not movingforward Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has directed the Division of State Parks and Recreation to not move forward in negotiating an easement that would allow needed access for a proposed project on the east shore of Bear Lake, citing grave concerns for the well-being of the region. "Bear Lake is one of the recreational gems of the State of Utah," Huntsman said. "For generations people have enjoyed fishing and recreating on its clear, blue waters, camping on its pristine shores and enjoying the beauty of the entire valley. The actions the State is taking today will ensure that the Bear Lake is preserved in its present state for generations to come." The State must balance the potential for societal benefit from projects such as this against the potential for unnecessary disruption of the social and natural fabric of the area involved. After input and collaboration from the State Public Lands Policy Coordination Office, other affected state agencies and local elected officials, it has been concluded that the potential for harm to the valuable Bear Lake region from the proposed pump storage project far outweighs the potential benefits. Undergrad research scholar applications The Undergraduate Research Scholar Transcript Designation is given to recognize the accomplishments of USU's undergraduate researchers. To qualify for the Undergraduate Research Scholar the student must meet the following requirements: • Completion of a minimum of two semesters of research, scholarship, or creative activity supervised by a faculty mentor. • Dissemination of research through a recognized venue such as Student Showcase, Undergraduate Research Day at the State Capitol, Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research, National Conference on Undergraduate Research, or a professional conference in the field of study. Alternate venues for creative activity may include art exhibitions or performances. • The endorsement of the faculty mentor(s). Application available on the Undergraduate Research Program website: research.usu.edu/undergrad. [•Compiled from staff and media reports |