Page 7 - Campus Technology, January/February 2020

MALWARE SOURCES. Half of all malware that tried to infect computers during the third quarter of 2019 was already known, according to a report from WatchGuard Technologies. The other half was “zero-day” malware, which bypassed (and therefore went undetected by) traditional signature-based security software. On its list of the top 10 malware attacks for a three-month period, WatchGuard identified several Apache Struts vulnerabilities, which the cybersecurity company identified as the same type of malware used in the Equifax data breach. In its report, WatchGuard also highlighted an increase in the use of Microsoft Office exploits as well as “legiti- mate penetration testing tools” for delivering computer infections. READ THE FULL STORY ONLINE.
VIRTUALLY ENOUGH. A working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that virtual advising may work for some pro- spective college students, but targeting who it can benefit is difficult. According to University of California, Los Angeles researchers, “many students probably need in-person and more intensive help to increase four-year enroll- ments.” The project found that students ran- domly assigned to the virtual advising program felt more supported during their college appli- cation process and ended up applying more fre- quently to four-year colleges, but they weren’t more likely to be accepted or to enroll to those schools. READ THE FULL STORY ONLINE.
MAJOR MATTERS. While the majority of college students in a recent survey believe their major selection is a key determinant of future job pros- pects, only 50 percent of employers analyzed in the study specified a major requirement for job listings. Why? Employers are increasingly focusing on job skills, according to a survey from Hand- shake, a career community that connects students and graduates with employers across the United States. The survey polled 1,004 U.S. college stu- dents mostly between the ages of 16 and 24 about their majors and career expectations, and
analyzed hiring data from employers using the Handshake Premium platform. Among the find- ings: Sixty-one percent of students feel pressured to choose a major that they believe will result in a high-paying job, and 63 percent of students would take the first job they were offered because they need the money. READ THE FULL STORY ONLINE.
IOT COLLABORATION. Arizona State University has partnered with Cox Communications to launch the Connected Environments Collabora- tory, an incubation center and convening space devoted to connected environments and the Internet of Things. Part of the collaboratory’s mission is to drive the development of Arizona’s Smart Region infrastructure and engage “city leaders and citizens, nonprofits, faculty, student researchers, industry experts and visiting schol- ars to build the metropolis and regional infra- structure of the future,” according to a news announcement. The focus will be on solving real challenges within the Greater Phoenix commu- nity with next-gen Internet of Things solutions: for example, applications for more sustainable buildings, learning experiences in augmented and virtual reality, technologies to overhaul transportation infrastructure, and more. READ THE FULL STORY ONLINE.
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Photos L-R: Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock, Montgomery County Community College, jamesteohart/Shutterstock