IT Only Takes a Minute - HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Since last summer, we have been recording our web series,
IT Only Takes a Minute, where we bring all the latest IT Updates right to your device.

In the last episode for 2017, we talk about what projects we have planned for 2018. 
WATCH HERE ➡ youtube.com/watch?v=kVEFaYBUzok

Along with it, here's a bonus video! A montage of all the videos we've been recording this past year. We would like to thank everyone for being a part of this journey!
WATCH HERE ➡ youtube.com/watch?v=k_wX-2JntTE

IT Help Desk Winter Break Hours

IT Help Desk Winter Break Hours

We’d like to take a break from our regular post to share our hours for the winter break.

Monday, December 12 – Thursday, December 14:  8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Friday December 15: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

CLOSED Saturday & Sunday, December 16 - 17

Monday, December 18 – Thursday, December 21 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday, December 22: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

CLOSED December 23 – January 1, 2018

Monday, January 2 – Friday, January 12: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

CLOSED Saturdays and Sundays, January 6, 7, 13, & 14

CLOSED Monday, January 15 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

We will resume our regular hours on Tuesday, January 16, as well as resuming our informative Help Desk blog posts.  Have a wonderful winter break, and a Happy New Year!

 

Don't Save Passwords In Your Web Browser!

It's tempting.  Google, Firefox, Apple and Microsoft make it very appealing.  It's just one click to save you time.  After you enter your username and password into a website, the browser inevitably prompts you to "Save your Password".  Then, the next time you visit the site your credentials will be ready and waiting for you!  You don't even have to type them in.

DON'T DO IT.

At least on ESU classroom, lab or public access computers.  

In classrooms on campus, users are encouraged to log in using the 'smart' account.  This ensures that all tech in the room is configured and ready to go.  The downside is that 'smart' is a shared resource now.  Each user of that computer can save files to the desktop, reconfigure icons or yes--save their passwords in the browser!  This means that each subsequent user--faculty, staff, student or guest, would then have access to the originators files, email, Canvas or more.

Similarly, on other shared devices--for example, checkout computers and some lab PC's, what may seem like a convenience is only giving the next student free reign into your content if you've clicked the ever-tempting "Save my Password" button.

Now, I'm sure you're thinking "but I log in with my own account to my computer and I don't share that with anyone".  And you are correct, that is safer.  To be completely safe, especially for credentials to highly sensitive information, just ignore that tempting prompt and click "No."

ARM Twisting in IT

No, this article isn't about how to twist an IT employee's arm--it's about his or her ARM.  ARM is  not a new technology, rather it's a different kind of processor technology.  All ESU computers use a variant of Intel's Core x86 64-bit processors.  ARM processors allow computers to consume less power and use small, lightweight form factors.  Unlike a typical computer, they are "always on", similar to what you'd experience when turning on an iPad.  It's just there--ready to use.  And with the latest generation of devices, you can run traditional Windows apps.  Microsoft ventured into this realm a few years back with the Windows RT-powered Surface device.  Unfortunately, it had two things going against it--the Windows 8-derived OS and the fact that it could only run new apps installed from the Windows Store.  At the time, regular Microsoft Office couldn't even run on it.  Those limitations are now gone with the new generation.  Speed, battery life and other performance form factors are yet to be proven--the first devices being announced this week from HP and Asus.  ESU IT will continue to monitor the advancements in this technology and someday you may be able to twist our arms to get one.

New SkyLab 2.0 Launches in January

IT is excited to announce SkyLab 2, the next generation of ESU's online virtual computer lab that allows students, faculty and staff to work anywhere!  With the new system, we're able to provide a more reliable experience which is intuitive to access. It's cleaner, simpler, and you may even see a slight performance boost.  SkyLab 2 will be available on January 2, 2018, by logging into Hornet 365 (hornet.emporia.edu).  We anticipate a seamless transition for existing SkyLab users, but if you do experience problems connecting with mobile apps or Macs, please contact us at the IT Help Desk.

Please note that the current SkyLab environment (except for the Employee Desktop) will be going away on January 2, 2018. If you have anything stored on a SkyLab desktop, including SkyLab School of Business, back it up as soon as possible. We recommend using OneDrive and would be glad to assist you.

This Holiday Season - Inside Your Connected Home

Smart devices connecting to the internet, aka the Internet of Things, are becoming more and more popular as holiday gifts. When you google IoT gifts you will find pages and pages of gift guides for "the tech-savvy" - some even including smart Crock-Pots!

However, amidst the excitement of the season and your new device, we'd like to take a minute to point out that even if your device can do many cool things, which is certainly exciting, it needs to be properly protected as it is connected to the Internet.

Now you might think, well, how bad can a smart Crock-Pot be? Worst-case scenario people will know what I cook! The trouble with IoT devices is not necessarily the damage the device can do itself (even though some might contain personal data you wouldn't want everyone to see). Criminals have been known to create what we call "botnets." Unprotected devices can get infected with malware, which allows criminals to control your device remotely and turn it into a "bot." Most of the time, your bot will be part of a network of bots, a botnet. Criminals can now remotely control a huge network of devices and launch serious attacks on websites or networks. The Mirai botnet, taking advantage of connected cameras and printers, was able to launch the largest denial-of-service attack in history.

So, what can you do? Here are some simple tips:

1. Research before you buy: make sure others have had positive experiences with the security and privacy options of the device.
   
2. Learn how to safeguard your device: protecting your smart device may be different than securing your computer. Research how to keep an IoT device secure before buying it. If you're buying for a friend or family member, why not add a note with tips on how to secure the device? Besides being practical it's also a nice gesture.
   
3. Delete when done: delete apps when you no longer use them.

Learn more with the IoT Tipsheet!

Good Luck with Finals (plus SkyPrint Credits!)

The fall semester is quickly coming to an end and we want to give students a little extra help when it comes to printing out those final assignments.  Each student's SkyPrint credits have been reset to the full $8!  If you've added money to your account, it will still be there for you to use next semester.  Good luck with finals!

Introducing Adobe CC 2018!

This week, IT made Adobe Creative Cloud 2018 applications available to ESU faculty/staff, downloadable on up to 2 computers.  Additionally, users can access the mobile versions of Adobe software on iOS, Android and Windows. 

ESU students also have access to the latest version of Creative Cloud in various labs and public spaces including on new high-performance computers in Richel Learning Space and William Allen White Library.

Adobe CC 2018 includes feature and performance updates to nearly every CC application, plus adds several new services, including Adobe Spark--a tool for creating social media content in seconds.  ESU faculty, staff and students are invited to take advantage of this great opportunity.

More Adobe info and downloads are now part Hornet 365.  View it here: Adobe Hornet Site

Hult Prize at Emporia State University

IT worked with Hult Prize Campus Director, Amir Ammar to promote the Hult Prize Competition for Emporia State University. Producing HornetTV content and an IT Only takes a Minute web series special episode 

The Hult Prize, in partnership with the United Nations, is the world’s largest student competition for budding social entrepreneurs, and every year welcomes college and university students from all around the globe. Named as one of the top five ideas changing the world by TIME Magazine, the annual competition for the Hult Prize aims to identify and launch the most compelling social business ideas—start-up enterprises that tackle grave issues faced by billions of people. From more than 50,000 applications received every year, one winning team will receive 1 million USD in seed capital, as well as mentorship and advice from the international business community.

For more information ➡ https://youtu.be/J39nICcKvN0

myIT Tip of the Week

myIT Tip of the Week

Wait, what’s this https thing?

You may notice while browsing websites if you enter the URL into the box instead of using a search engine that almost everyone has replaced http:// with https://. Most of the time, no one even fills this part out. We rely on our browsers to do so. But when we shop online, (as more than 140 million shoppers in the US are projected to do this Black Friday) or send sensitive information through a website, this can mean quite a lot.

 

On the other side of the bar in Internet Explorer, or right next to it in Firefox, Chrome and Safari, secure sites will also display a handy lock icon, letting you know that this site has HTTPS. HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. It is a standard way of preventing your information from ending up in the wrong hands. Sometimes, thieves try to get your information. They will try to intercept your messages on their way to the server, read them, and then send them on so that no one will be the wiser. With the S, not only would thieves have to intercept the signal, they would also have to decode it. If you have any questions or see anything which makes you suspicious, feel free to contact the IT Helpdesk at (620) 341-5555 or by email at helpdesk@emporia.edu.