Introduction
Pop ups can be malicious in nature, and can hint to an underlying Malware installation on your device. You should always report anything that you do not recognize, that you think is malicious, or that you don't trust to the Help Desk via email at helpdesk@massasoit.mass.edu, or by phone by calling (508) 588-9100 x1139. If you think your computer has been compromised, please shut it down immediately and contact the Help Desk for further instruction. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can identify and remedy any threats to our devices. With this in mind, there are a few pop ups you will notice occurring moving forward, as we migrate to a new device management platform called Intune, and integrate utilities such as Dell Command | Update and Patch My PC into our toolbox here at ITS. We are always evolving as the technological landscape does around us, and these tools are assisting us in ensuring that your device is as secure as possible.
Expected Pop Ups
The following examples will show you the pop ups you can expect to receive, and can rest assured are legitimate, trusted sources.
Dell Command | Update
Dell Command | Update is a utility provided to us by our device manufacturer and supplier, Dell. This utility automates the delivery and installation of critical updates for your device. Every part of your computer needs a little piece of software, called a Driver, to communicate input or show output. This utility handles the patching of those little and critical pieces of software. This utility will also handle the patching of the BIOS, which is a system that runs on your computer that manages the behaviour of all those little parts and pieces that make your computer run.
Intune Management Extension
Intune is our cloud native device management, app deployment, and provisioning platform. In English, Intune is used by ITS to set up computers used by everyone on campus. We upload software and configuration files to it, we group and manage user accounts and computers with it, and we use it to provide access to software to our users. There is another article which covers using a utility provided by Microsoft called the 'Company Portal', which is installed on your computer, that covers the topic of software installation through it. Those applications are uploaded and maintained by us in ITS through Intune.
You will see these pop ups periodically when you have applications installed through the Company Portal, or by us when your computer is first set up. They are strictly informative in nature, and designed to provide you insight into what is happening on your computer.