Wondering about the pop-up message that just appeared on your screen, or in some of your emails, or why some of your applications suddenly look different? This may be due to a recent IT update or enhancement. Consult the following for a list of recent changes to your IT services and tools. This list will be updated as more IT improvements are rolled out, so bookmark this page and check back regularly! If you don't see what you're looking for, or if you need assistance, please contact the IT Service Desk.
In this article:
- Enhanced anti-phishing and anti-malware protection enabled for the McGill community
- Number matching (Extra step in the two-factor authentication (2FA) process for Microsoft Authenticator on your mobile device
- Updates to McGill’s anti-virus software Cisco Secure Endpoint: Messages displayed on Windows machines during scheduled monthly update
Enhanced anti-phishing and anti-malware protection enabled for the McGill community
In October, IT Services added enhanced anti-phishing and anti-malware protection to McGill email and Microsoft Teams conversations. Here are some details on what changed:
Anti-phishing
This feature checks incoming messages for indicators that a message might be a phishing attempt. Incoming messages are analyzed and appropriate action on the item is taken based on configured policies. For example, you may see a warning in a potentially malicious message, telling you that you don't often receive messages from this address. This warning serves as an alert to prompt you to verify if it is a legitimate sender.
Safe Attachments
Safe Attachments scans all incoming attachments in your email and MS Teams conversations to detect malware and/or viruses: This enhanced attachment scanning might result in very small delays in receiving attachments, so do not be concerned if it takes slightly longer than usual to receive an email you may be expecting.
Safe Links
This feature scans links in your email and MS Teams conversations for malicious or fraudulent links. You will be able to see a preview of the link (by hovering over it), so you can be sure it is a legitimate link before you click. If the link points to the expected location, it is most likely safe. Note: The link preview displays the correct link in Outlook but may show a different URL beginning in can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com in other mail programs. This is one reason that Outlook is strongly recommended for McGill email. See the Index of setup instructions for McGill Email for more information.
If you do click on a link that is already known to be malicious or fraudulent, Safe Links will protect you by providing a warning message before you proceed. This feature adds an extra layer of protection from phishing, fraud, and malware. While you do have the option to “Continue anyway” to the page you’re trying to access, it is not recommended, and could lead to your computer or device becoming infected.
Some sample warning messages:
Number matching: Extra step in the two-factor authentication (2FA) process for Microsoft Authenticator on your mobile device
To improve two-factor authentication (2FA) security, number matching is now required for all Microsoft Authenticator users. When you log in to a McGill application, the application will display a 2-digit number. To authenticate, you will have to input the number displayed in the application into Microsoft Authenticator. This additional step will help you ensure that the person requesting authentication is, in fact, you.
Updates to McGill’s anti-virus software Cisco Secure Endpoint: Messages displayed on Windows machines during scheduled monthly update
Cisco Secure Endpoint, McGill’s antivirus software, receives a regularly scheduled, monthly update. The process to update all affected McGill machines occurred over a period of approximately 2 weeks. In October 2022, the scheduled update process included a series of messages that appeared on Windows machines (see below). No action was required, and users could simply close the final message once the installation was complete. For more information, consult the IT Knowledge Base article Antivirus updates for work computers.
During download and installation, the following message appeared:
The next message indicated that the upgrade was in progress. No action from the user was required.
Once the upgrade was complete, the following message appeared. No action from the user was required, and the window could be closed manually by pressing the “X” in the upper righthand corner.
These updates will provide a significant boost to McGill's security and are a part of our ongoing effort to keep the McGill community safe.