LastPass Password Manager: A Crash Course
LastPass, an easily downloadable internet extension for all browsers, is ideal for securely storing your passwords. Whether you’re someone who’s always forgetting a password, prefers to have a different password for every account, or anywhere in between, LastPass will become an essential tool for keeping your information safe and accessible. Any password you add to your LastPass vault is available at the push of a button, making logging into any website simple. The app will also store safely store personal information, like payment details, Wi-Fi passwords, insurance numbers, and more. The info you need will be kept secure and easy to access whenever you need. Students and faculty are able to join LastPass Premium, making an annual $24.00 bill for using LastPass free to the Elon community. Read on to learn how you can start your free LastPass account in just a few clicks. Creating your LastPass Vault Visit…
Read MoreNeed to Cancel Class? Try These 4 Online Alternatives Instead!
Whether you have a planned absence on the calendar, or inclement weather suddenly threatens to cancel your lecture, there are several ways to hold an effective class digitally. Read on to learn about online tools that can help keep your class on track when holding class isn’t possible. 1. Utilize Moodle’s impressive array of features. Todd Lee, a Professor of Mathematics and and Faculty Fellow for Technology, is no stranger to conducting classes remotely. While conferences and the occasional illness sometimes keep him from class, Lee has not shied away from using digital tools like Moodle to keep his classes on schedule despite absence. The ability to embed videos, articles, and quizzes into Moodle courses can be very helpful for designing an online equivalent to lecture. One way to gauge students as they follow a remote class is to assign relevant readings and/or videos, and then a subsequent benchmark…
Read More5 Awesome Moodle Features You Didn’t Know Existed
After the Moodle renovation this winter, the interface has more features than ever, geared to make your online classroom interactive and convenient. Want to learn how to get the most out of Moodle? You’re in the right place – here are five hidden features you may not have known Moodle offers. 1. Use Moodle’s user-friendly editing tools to make frequent changes in your courses. As an instructor using Moodle, it’s easier than you may think to adapt and edit your courses. You can use the “Turn Editing On” link to make editing icons visible and customize your course. Moodle also makes it simple to organize modules even in the most content-heavy courses. Click and hold the crosshairs icon beside a course header and Moodle will display all headers uploaded to the page. Then, you can click and drag where you want each activity to fall. If you’re on the…
Read More2 Real Examples to Help You Spot an Email Phishing Scam
The dangers of phishing scams hit closer to home than ever last week as Elon faculty and staff members found themselves targeted. As one can note from the screenshots included below, these convincing, yet fraudulent, emails asked faculty and staff to log onto their private Elon accounts. From there, scammers will search for account numbers, login IDs, and other user information. It’s important to learn how you can detect and avoid similar scams. Check out the emails and annotations below to learn how you can spot a fraudulent email. (Click the images below to zoom in.) How to spot a fraudulent email: Remain wary of emails from senders you don’t recognize, especially if they’re asking you to click a link and log in to a website. Remember that grammatical errors can be a sign that an email is a scam, particularly if the email is from an unknown…
Read More3 Common Tax Scams and How to Avoid Them
According to the IRS, thousands of people have had their personal information (and sometimes money) stolen as a result of a tax scam. These scams, also known as “phishing schemes,” try to trick people into sharing their personal information by pretending to be an official organization, such as the IRS. While you may think that you’re not at risk, if you possess a phone, an email address, or receive mail, you too could fall victim to a tax scam. Today, we’ll share a few ways you can detect common phishing schemes and keep your personal information safe this tax season. There are several ways that scammers may contact you when trying to phish for personal information. Stay alert and familiarize yourself with some of the most common ways scammers may reach out: Threatening phone calls claiming you owe back taxes, or threatening arrest if you do not pay. Fraudulent emails…
Read More5 Tips for Blocking Hacker Attacks This Cyber Monday
The holiday season has arrived! While this is a perfect time to get great online deals, this is also the time when scammers and hackers take advantage of the increase in online transactions to steal personal information. Scammers often use social media, email, and text messages to trick you into giving away your personal information by getting you to click on links disguised as sales. Usually the links appear to come from a legitimate source, however clicking on them takes you to a malicious, but real-looking, page asking for your personal information. Today, we’ll share a few ways you can spot shopping scams and keep your personal information safe. Ask yourself these quick questions before buying online this holiday season: Question 1: Are my apps and web browsers up-to-date? Apps and web browsers are updated regularly to add new features and address any security vulnerabilities. Before making a purchase make…
Read MoreTakeaways from National Cyber Security Awareness Month 2017
Every October, businesses, organizations, and individuals from around the work come together and participate in National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) to promote online safety and cyber security awareness. This month, Elon’s Office of Information Technology has worked together to help make online safety approachable and accessible with weekly cyber security articles and quick tips for staying safe online. Here are the main takeaways from each week of NCSAM: Cyber Security 101 A major theme in this year’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month included sharing that it is not difficult to stay safe from the threat of cyber attacks. Throughout the month, we highlighted simple tips for keeping your information safe on the web, including how to create strong passwords, learning to spot email scams, and how to regularly backup your device. Creating a Culture of Cyber Security in the Workplace There are many ways for hackers to steal data…
Read MoreSecuring smart devices and protecting personal information
We live in a world of smart cities, connected devices, and digitized records. Smart devices allow us stay connected and updated on what is happening around the world, and help us keep up with our fast-paced lives. Although smart devices are immensely useful, they are fueled by our personal information, which can be dangerous. By providing your smart devices with information like your shopping preferences or address, they are able to monitor your activity and save personal data. For example, some connected devices, such as the Echo and Alexa, work by listening to audio cues and spoken phrases to provide their users with a helpful responses. These devices can help us create a shopping list, call a loved one, play our favorite song, and more, but as they are always listening and monitoring what we say, it can be difficult to know how to protect our information from security threats….
Read MoreCreating a Culture of Cybersecurity in the Workplace
Data breaches are increasing every year and hackers are getting more advanced as security systems improve. Because of this, there are many ways for hackers to steal data in the workplace including when you share information online over an unsecure WiFi network or leave your computer unlocked. Fortunately, there are many ways for you, as an employee, to protect personal and professional information. Here are a few simple measures to protect data, prevent theft, and stop attacks in the workplace: Be aware of the people around you Be mindful of the people around you while working in public spaces such as coffee shops or a library. For example, people may be standing behind you or looking over your shoulder while you’re typing in credit card information or viewing sensitive documents. Lock all devices with a password Having a passcode on your phone and computer can stop a thief from accessing…
Read MoreInformation Technology recognized during National Customer Service Week
Information Technology is proud to highlight the exemplary customer service provided by the department’s staff during National Customer Service Week. Service with a smile When it comes to offering customer service, the employees of Information Technology (IT) strive to offer faculty, staff, students, alumni, and retirees the best experience possible. From troubleshooting issues, to creating new applications and sites, to assisting faculty in integrating technology into their pedagogy, the IT staff is constantly solving new problems to help the Elon community daily. Offering excellent customer service isn’t unique to IT. It is prevalent throughout Elon in the work that all employees, both professional and student staff, provide to the campus community. To celebrate outstanding customer service, the International Customer Service Association (ICSA) established National Customer Service Week. What is National Customer Service Week? Celebrated each year during the first full week of October, National Customer Service Week is an opportunity to celebrate customer service professionals and highlight the important…
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