UTSA has enacted a new policy that all university-owned laptops be encrypted.

This new mandate, which will help to reduce the risk of revealing sensitive information if a laptop is lost or stolen, has been approved by UTSA President Ricardo Romo.

Laptop encryption will increase the university's overall information security profile.

Data encryption is a process that makes information on a device unreadable except to the password holder.

In the first phase of the project, we will be encrypting laptops running Windows XP and Windows 2000. Macs and other laptops will be encrypted in a subsequent phase.

To learn more about the project and to access FAQs and other support resources please visit the Laptop Encryption Program Web site.

Cyber Security Awareness Month is over and so is the online Treasure Island game. UTSA students were invited to play the game that challenged them to earn points by attending lectures, finding codes hidden in various promotional materials and by taking online quizzes.

112 students, who were asked to create a user name, played the game.

The user names of the winners are:

Top Scorer/Winner of iPod touch: TigerC10

2nd Place/Winner of Google backpack: Sowmya

Other winners:

Winner of external hard drive: Sandy

Winner of 2GB flash drive: Christel

Winner of laptop sleeve: CaptainAlpha

Winner of bobblehead: Sebastian

Winner of iPod shuffle: Jamail


All winners are being notified via their UTSA e-mail address with instructions on how to collect their prize.

It's that time of year again - when ghosts and goblins haunt us at every turn. But who knows what evil lurks online? Well, we do. That's why it's important for you to join us as we celebrate Cyber Security Awareness Month at UTSA.

The Information Security Office has put together a program that will educate and entertain the UTSA community. This year, our lecture series will feature a wide range of information security experts, from private industry, the FBI and UTSA.

UTSA students will be able to participate in the "Treasure Island" game - they will learn how to protect themselves online and they will be eligible to win prizes, including an iPod Touch, iPod Shuffle or a Google backpack.

All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, check out the Cyber Security Awareness Month Web site.

Students: The Treasure Island entry code for this article is: TE78Q1

Did you know that you can now access Define from your home PC?

Software is available for your Windows-based or Mac personal computer. Of course, in order to use the software, you must have a Define account.

The installation software is available for download through RowdySpace, our online file sharing and collaboration application. You will be required to log in to RowdySpace - simply use your network ID ("abc123" format) and your network password.

Before installing the software, please read the appropriate Readme file for your Windows or Mac PC.

If you run into any problems with the installation process, please contact OIT Support Services, 458-5538.