Password Security

Your password for using the PC network, Blackboard, the Sam Menu, e-mail and dial-in are all the same. In the olden days (two years ago), it took three separate passwords. So we've tried to reduce the number of things you have to remember. However, because it is so critical, you must change it at least once a year.

Passwords that are over three years old will be expiring this month. Save yourself the aggravation of having your account's password expire. If you cannot remember when you last changed your password, do it now. The minimum length is six characters, and it needs to be a combination of letters and numbers. It cannot just be a word or six numbers. Make it a little complicated so you at least slow the hackers down.

PC Users: Just click CTRL-ALT-DELETE right now. You can choose Change Password, and be done with this in less than a minute.

Macintosh Users: With your PIN, you can change it online through SamInfo.

New PC Software

This month we have added several new software packages to the PC network, and have purchased the new version of one.

Click Start, Programs, SHSU Program Installation Menu, Web Authoring for these two applications.

• Dreamweaver MX 2004---you can use Dreamweaver for creating your web pages.
• Flash MX 2004---this software is designed to significantly spice up your web site. It has improved dramatically with regards to its compliance with ADA and state regulations. You can add video and make your web sites much more dynamic.

Click Start, Programs, SHSU Program Installation Menu, Publishing for these programs.

• Adobe Photoshop CS 8-- this is considered one of the premier graphics programs. It provides substantially more options than PaintShop Pro.
• Adobe InDesign CS 3--- this new layout software allows you to save your graphics with all the layers intact---rather than the more common layer compression in other packages.

Sam Menu

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS: The program, Compressed Room Report, (ROOM01RG) is now available to all faculty and staff as an option on the Sam Menu under Miscellaneous. This report can be used to determine conflicts in classroom scheduling. It generates a room report, a time conflict report and a prime-time rooms available report.

Blackboard

This month we are expecting an update from Blackboard for version 6.1. This update includes software fixes as well as two new features. The first enhancement is a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor and the second is an edit link that allows the instructor to edit content directly without having to go through the control panel. We will be installing the update on our test server first so that we can work out any kinks we may encounter before we put it on the production server.

We will also be putting in new hard drives in both the test and production servers. This will increase the amount of data you can store in Blackboard. We are looking for a middle of February conversion date, so we expect Bb to come down around 6pm on a Friday and come back up by 6pm Saturday. We will keep you posted as to the exact date.

Instant Messaging (IM)

Are you chatting with others in your department via IM? Especially during peak registration times, this can be a convenient way to quickly solve problems. Did you know that if you use AOL, Yahoo, or MSN, people can intercept your IM and read it? It's the cell phone problem all over again! So you certainly cannot use those if you are sharing confidential information such as social security numbers. It may seem far-fetched to imagine someone intercepting your messages---but with student privacy issues, you need to be extra cautious.

There is an alternative now for PC users. You can now use Jabber with SSL encryption (GAIM) to add security to your instant messaging. Additionally, you can continue to IM prospects or alumni for instance that may be using Yahoo, AIM, MSN, or ICQ.

First install GAIM. Click Start, All Programs, SHSU Program Installation, Messaging Clients, GAIM. After installing the program, you can add the encrypted chat security. Click to Expand Tools-> Accounts-> select your account and choose Modify. From there you can expand Show More Options and choose Force old SSL on port 5223.

Mac Users: GAIM is not supported on the Macintosh platform at this time. However Macintosh users can use the Jabberfox client which is compatible with AIM and Jabber. A GAIM package for the Macs is currently in the early planning stages.

Spring Cleaning

It's that time of year. Take a few minutes now and look through your S: drive. Have you backed up your C: drive on it when you got a new machine? If so, delete that backup folder now. Have you stored jokes or pictures or movies? The larger your S: drive, the longer it will take you to login and logout. In fact, it'll take longer for everyone on campus---to some extent---since University resources have to be expended on saving your information. So please be a responsible user. Keep what you need, and get rid of the rest.

Please follow the same procedure for your e-mail. Empty your Trash and review your Sent folder. If you want to access your e-mail over the Internet, it's essential that you take the initiative to trim your e-mail system. Web browsers are much less forgiving of huge mailboxes.

Home Security

The current alerts for viruses as posted at McAfee are MyDoom, Dumaru.y, and Swen. You should have a virus scanner installed on your machine. McAfee will allow you to run one free scan so that you can find out if you have viruses.

1. MyDoom is classified as a "High-Outbreak Risk mass-mailing worm flooding email servers worldwide." You can know that you've been infected if Notepad opens filled with nonsense.
   
2. Dumaru.y is a Medium Risk mass-mailing worm. It specifically targets e-gold.com users. It will have the attachment MYPHOTO.ZIP
3. Swen is also considered a Medium Risk mass-mailing worm. You've been infected with it if you get a display of a series of dialog boxes or the unexpected termination of security and anti-virus products.

Training

February’s training offerings are now posted. This month we are doing a breakdown of key areas in Blackboard. Learn how to better communicate with your students, create assessments and manage your Bb gradebook. Dreamweaver 2004 MX was recently put on our network. So if you want to learn about putting together your web page, making it look good, and collecting information from folks who visit your site, please feel free to sign up for one of our 4 Dreamweaver courses.

We now have Photoshop CS on our network. This month we will be offering a web graphics class using Photoshop. Learn how to make buttons and backgrounds and make your pictures web-ready.

Review the Training Calendar for details. 

Tech Tip

ACROBAT 6: You can completely protect your PDFs if you want to ensure that no one else modifies them. Click Security/Restrict Opening & Editing. Enter in your own password. Click Allow Printing, then resave the PDF. Now, no one can copy/paste, edit, or reuse any part of your PDF.

To learn more about the capabilities in Adobe Acrobat, sign up for the 2/16 workshop.