OPINION

Doing Something About Spyware

By Terry Calhoun

Many of us find ourselves in a constant battle with our own computers and our own software due to sneaky programs that install themselves and do things we don’t want to happen--while taking up valuable computing power. And it’s even worse if you share a computer with a kid: Kids not only smudge your monitor with their sticky fingers, they do equivalently nasty things to the software as well.

The work of the Anti-Spyware Coalition (ASC) in setting definitions, agreed-upon language that can be used to clearly define the myriad of spyware-type threats, is a promising new step in reducing the problem. Unlike the Can-Spam Act, with its twisted title, this group seems really serious about being against spyware. Its definitional draft is open for comments from the public until August 12. You should read it and comment. Read more

IT NEWS

T'eing the Line on Back-to-School PCs

Are schools and manufacturers each giving students the same advice on what to bring to college with them? Especially interesting is this article coverage of the categories of the kinds of advice schools provide for students. (CNET) Read more

100 Best Places to Work in IT 2005 - U. Miami D'es Well!

What? It's not where you work? Well, maybe it is if you work at the University of Miami, which edged up into second place, right behind Quicken Loans. (Computerworld) Read more

It's Hard to Compete with Gmail, but . . .

The University of Texas at Arlington will be boosting its email accounts total capacity to three terabytes soon. Less than 20 percent of students use the system and this is an attempt to beef it up so that perhaps more will. (The Shorthorn) Read more

UMassOnline Launches New Web Site

UMassOnline, the University of Massachusetts' online education division, announced this week that its Web site has been enhanced with new features for adult learners seeking information about online degree and certificate programs. Read more

RESOURCES

GIS Tools for Planning, Management, and Communication

A nice survey article of the powerful ways people are using GIS on and around campus. (APPA) Read more

DEALS, CONTRACTS, AWARDS

Datatel Partners for Payment Processing

Official Payments Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tier Technologies, Inc., and Datatel, Inc., a leading provider of technology solutions and professional services for higher education, announced this week that they have entered into a partnership agreement to provide payment processing services as an integrated part of the Datatel Colleague enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. Find out more

IBM Donates $5M to Kansas Community Colleges for Linux Education

All the schools are near Wichita and were chosen due to their proven ability to work together. They will offer a two-year certificate in e-business. (Tech News World) Read more