Fall 2012

Contents: 

UNF is Going Mobile
Email Communication with Students: Class Lists 
Connecting to UNF From Home or While Traveling
Need Technical Assistance: The ITS Help Desk is Here for You
Student Technology Sessions  

IT Security Tip: Increase Your Security Online 

 

UNF is Going Mobile

The UNF Mobile app, available for both the iPhone and Android, allows you to keep up-to-date with UNF news, take care of your University business, and connect with others when and where it is convenient for you. You can do it all, right from the palm of your hand. The app is simple to install and use. The UNF Mobile app features are listed below.

  • Directory: Search the public directory
  • Events: Browse academic and other types of events and add them to your personal calendar
  • Maps: Find out where you are and where you need to go
  • News: Get the latest UNF news, including Alumni Journal, Osprey Update, press releases and UNF in the News media coverage
  • UNF Website: Surf the UNF website from a mobile platform
  • Emergency: Quickly access emergency phone numbers (911, University Police Department, the Counseling Center, Victim Assistance or the main UNF switchboard)
  • Blackboard Learn: Get instant access to all of your Blackboard Learn™ courses on the go

More Information on UNF Mobile 

 

Additionally, the UNF website has also been enhanced to be a mobile-friendly website. When users log on to the University's website, it will automatically recognize that users are logging on from a mobile device and convert the traditional Web version to a mobile-friendly version, with the convenience of not having to go to a separate mobile site. 

Email Communication with Students: Class Lists

Faculty have three options by which to email their classes.  Click on the links below to find step by step instructions for emailing your classes using Banner, Blackboard or your UNF email account.  

Connecting to UNF From Home or While Traveling

Faculty have several ways in which to connect to UNF technology resources from home or while traveling. If you want to access your network drives, Microsoft Office applications or Outlook email, you can connect to the Remote Desktop Services (RDS) Server.

If you want to access your UNF email while away from your office, you can either set up your smartphone to read you UNF email or you can open a web browser and login to Web Access.  

Need Technical Assistance - the ITS Help Desk is Here for You

The Information Technology Services Help Desk assists faculty seven days a week.  Help Desk staff will visit your office or classroom to provide assistance or escalate your issue to the appropriate C-Tech or D-Tech.

 

The four methods for contacting the Help Desk are:

  • Email the Help Desk at helpdesk@unf.edu 
  • Submit an online request at http://help.unf.edu  
  • Call 904-620-4357 (HELP)
  • Visit them at  the Mathews Computer Lab in Building 15, Room 2102

Student Technology Sessions

Information Technology Services provides free technology training sessions at the start of the term for students. Topics include Blackboard, email, myWings and student file storage. The workshops will help students new to UNF or those who want to learn more about UNF’s technology resources. Students may bring their technology questions and issues to these sessions. Faculty are asked to share this information with their students on the first day of class. Learn more about the student technology sessions.    

 

The student technology session dates and times for Fall 2012 term are:  

Thursday, August 23 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in building 9, room 1233

Tuesday, August 28 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in building 9, room 1233

Wednesday, August 29 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in building 9, room 1413

 

 IT Security Tip: Increase Your Security Online  

 

UNF has experienced numerous phishing attacks in the past year, usually in the form of an e-mail that attempts to solicit personal information or trick people into visiting a malicious Web site. Some of the phishing attempts are very clever and use a blend of real and malicious links. These sites can look very convincing, but if you know what to look for, you can minimize your chances of falling for such attacks.

  • Always move a suspicious email to the Junk E-mail folder before opening it to stop potential automated malware infections. Emails can contain scripts that will download and install malware without your knowledge. 
  • If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply and do not click on hyperlinks that may be included.
  • Be aware that no reputable organization will ask you for your account or personal details, such as your SSN, birth date, address, or password, in an e-mail. When in doubt, pick up a phone and call.
  • If you're not certain of a link, type it into your browser yourself. This defeats attempts by attackers to hide the real link by using an image or similar method that appears valid but actually leads to the malicious site.
  • Consider reading e-mail in plain text mode. Many of the tricks attackers use rely on hiding what they’re doing using html or some form of rich text format. If you read your e-mail in plain text, it won’t be as pretty, but phishing attacks stand out like sore thumbs.

 Additional steps you can take to significantly increase your security online:

  • Create a unique password for each online account.  Sharing passwords among various accounts (E-mail, FaceBook, Twitter, etc.) means that an attacker who obtains your password for one, can potentially access them all and do far more damage. 
  • When logging into websites, look for the lock icon to indicate that your connection is securely encrypted. If it’s not shown, your login credentials may be susceptible to interception by malicious parties as they traverse the internet.
  • Always use the “Logout” button when leaving a website. This ensures that the server on the other end knows you’re done and will no longer process requests for your account until you log back in.
  • Be wary of free and open wireless hotspots, they often do not encrypt your wireless traffic which means anyone nearby can see your traffic. Even though the operator may be trustworthy, other patrons around you may not be.

 

 

Questions or comments regarding this Technology Update may be directed to its-infomail@unf.edu