The Cornell Daily Sun - Independent Since 1880

The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/2004/01/28/e-fungus-among-us/)

January 28, 2004

Uncategorized

E-Fungus Among Us

By wpengine | January 28, 2004

Cornell Information Technologies (CIT) sent a campus-wide e-mail alert yesterday warning computer users that the Novarg e-mail virus, which began flooding corporate mailboxes on Monday, has been located on Cornell’s network.

The virus appears as an attachment in an e-mail with a .zip, .exe, .pif, or .scr file suffix. Once opened, the virus renders computers vulnerable to hackers seeking to retrieve sensitive information stored within. Novarg then distributes itself to e-mail addresses stored within the infected machine. The virus has been spreading at a breakneck pace for the last two days through massive corporate e-mail lists, according to the Associated Press. Novarg is also programmed to initiate a denial-of-service attack against the website of software developer SCO Group.

While CIT’s new mail servers are equipped with software capable of blocking the virus, there are several leaks through which Novarg has trickled into the University’s network, according to Steven Schuster, director of Information Technology security.

“We haven’t had to worry so much because our antivirus stuff has done an exceptionally good job,” Schuster said. “[Still], there is a small chance e-mail may be directed around antivirus software.”

One of the potential gaps in Cornell’s electronic defense lies in mail servers other than the central CIT servers which route most student mail. Separate servers exist for the computer science department, the School of Hotel Administration and the Johnson Graduate School of Management. These servers may not be adequately protected from the Novarg attack.

Additionally, infected mail routed through one of CIT’s post offices runs a slight risk of getting into students’ computers.

“There is a small chance e-mail may be directed around antivirus software, a very small chance,” Schuster said. “And that will be closed up tomorrow or the next day.”

Students who believe their computers may have become infected with the virus should visit the Symantec Corp. website and follow the removal instructions posted there, Schuster advised. The CIT help desk will also be available to walk users through the process.

Archived article by Jeff Sickelco

Related

Duffield Hall Almost Ready

By wpengine January 29, 2004

Although students returning to the Engineering Quad after break may not have noticed much change from the end of last semester, the first phase of construction at Duffield Hall is finally complete. The building, named after David Duffield ’62, is now occupied by the Cornell Nanofabrication Center (CNF). Duffield Hall, which has been under construction since June 2000, will be home to branches of the Nanobiotechnology Center (NBTC) and the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR) by the end of March. Other researchers are being considered to fill the rest of the second and third floor offices and 22 laboratories. Keeping in mind the project’s theme of “promoting interaction and the sharing of ideas” the next phase of construction is to complete the atrium that will connect the south end of Phillips Hall, via indoor bridges, to Duffield and Upson Halls, said Amy Ritter, project manager. Because Duffield Hall contains space for researchers from many different departments and colleges, “people can collaborate and work together” in ways they had not previously been capable, said Bill Bader, Duffield Hall facility manager. The atrium, according to Bader, “will also encourage collaboration and interaction among students.” Ritter explained that studies show that shared spaces, such as the atrium with its open areas, nooks with tables and computer hook-ups, and dining facility, can promote this sharing just as much as an interdisciplinary laboratory in Duffield Hall itself. The space is “a natural gathering place,” Bader said. “The schedule is extremely tight,” said Brian Brown, construction manager. But, the crew is trying to complete the atrium for graduation in June 2004. The application for a temporary certificate of occupancy will be submitted at the end of May. A dedication ceremony will take place in October to coincide with a gala celebration of the 25th anniversary of CNF. The Engineering Quad, which was covered in construction material during the destruction of Knight Laboratory in November, will have a completely new look by the end of the spring. At the beginning of the school year, a layer of topsoil was put down and the land was regraded. Once the land thaws, shrubs and trees will be planted. However, there is no set date of completion for the landscaping project. “Landscaping is entirely weather-dependent,” Ritter said. Other parts of the construction project, however, have not stalled despite the cold weather. Because Phillips Hall will open into the atrium, its south wall is being remodeled. One of the biggest challenges faced by construction workers in this weather is “keeping the spaces enclosed during construction,” Ritter said. To deal with this obstacle, walls are torn down in the morning and replaced on the same day by temporary plastic covers to allow for continued use of the classrooms. Brown also noted the difficulty of working in the winter. “Cold weather is the enemy of outdoor construction,” he said. Costs rise during the winter months as a result of insulation materials, heat sources, and even accommodations made for concrete to be laid without freezing. Many undergraduates in the engineering school are unaware of their ability to use Duffield Hall. Ritter explained that there is a teaching laboratory in the clean room and undergraduates will have access to some classrooms. Despite the building’s focus on specific engineering-related research, “this building is for Cornell,” Ritter said. Duffield Hall “makes Cornell University the very best location in the world
Variety Store Moves, Expands on Commons

By wpengine January 29, 2004

After switching locations and adding merchandise, Ray’s Office Supply and Variety Store plans to have its grand opening the week of Feb. 12, just in time for Ithaca’s Annual Chili Cook-Off. The store, which is in the former CVS location, has been open since December, and continues to get more items in stock every day. What started as a store with office and art supplies and a copy center has adopted aisles of everything from shampoo to over-the-counter medicines, razor blades, condoms and bake wear. “Plus, we now have snack items like soda and chips, and a small line of groceries. On Monday, we will be getting a section of milk, eggs, and bread,” said Lynda Thompson, retail manager of the new store. The front of the store, which is now full of displays, will soon feature a self-serve coffee bar. “We hope to get coffee machines. Right now we are taste testing different kinds of coffee,” Thompson said. There will be tables in the front near the coffee section and seats are soon to be decided upon. “We will have wireless Internet access that will allow basic surfing and checking mail,” said Norm Rich, business product manager. Besides food and drugs, the store has a new section devoted to stationery. There are magazines, cards, newspapers and personalized stationery is soon to come. Ever since the location change, “people are here everyday. There is no age limit. We see a little bit of everybody. A lot of people come in and say ‘thank you for being here!'” Thompson said. After CVS closed down a few years ago, they left an empty store and a gap in the Ithaca community. “Who wants to go to a grocery store to pick up a bottle of shampoo? Here, you can just stop in during your lunch break and grab a bag of chips to go with your sandwich,” said Thompson. With ten to twelve employees in total, Thompson is not alone. She strays from her title as retail manager and does everything from customer service to running the register, buying and scheduling. “I’m the jack of all trades,” Thompson joked. Anyone who journeys into the back of the enormous store is likely to meet Ruth Mitchell, whose job is to bind, laminate, mount and blow up images in the copy center. “We do a lot of custom work here. They did have a copy center at the old store, but we were much more separate then. A lot more people are finding us back here,” Mitchell said. She continued, “What else do we do? I could go on and on and on.” Ray’s Office Supply and Variety Store has filled a niche that was missing from downtown Ithaca. “People who didn’t used to venture over to our other location are stopping in to see the new store. It’s a great little spot here, I’ll tell ya,” Mitchell said. Archived article by Jessica Liebman