Tag Archive: Security

Since I’m passing on good material from other blogs, here’s another. Legal Geekery has a great post entitled Backup Your Computer Right Now. He recommends SugarSync. If you want a personal service, I’d recommend Mozy or DropBox (which I personally use).

Most law students take all of their notes and compile their outlines on laptop computers. However, it seems few law students bother backing up their data. Without backing up, law students are gambling with all of that irreplaceable data. Some people back their data up using a thumb drive which they then keep in their laptop bag. This is insufficient. If you keep your backup data in the same place as your laptop, they could both get stolen or ruined at the same time. Not backing up your data? You’re playing Russian roulette with your data and most likely your grades. Don’t do it.

We recommend that you do more than just use a digital backup.  You should also print out your outlines periodically and yes, USE A SERVICE.

But you don’t need to go out and get your own service. Here at Pepperdine we offer UNLIMITED online storage available anywhere by using your Pepperdine Google Drive. You can access it from google.pepperdine.edu

More info on Google Drive as well as all the Pepperdine Google Services can be found here: http://community.pepperdine.edu/it/tools/storage/googledrive.htm

The MyID PIN Reset outlines the process for resetting a forgotten password via MyID:

1. Go to: https://myid.pepperdine.edu

2. Click Option 2: Click “Forgot Password”
3. Enter your NetworkID.
4. Type the letters displayed in the picture.
5. Select the check box (to allow PIN text message)
6. Click “Request PIN”

7. You will receive a confirmation message, click “Close”
8. Retrieve the PIN from your alternate email or mobile phone. Enter it here and click “Validate”
9. Enter your new password twice and click “Reset Password”
*Please Note: If your password does not meet our complexity requirements, you will see a red X next to the issues that need to be fixed.
10. Password reset was successful. Please close your browser.
Password Tip: Don’t Get Locked Out!
Update passwords you stored on your mobile devices, too!

Important update:

Password resets are now being handled by MyID.pepperdine.edu rather than NetworkID.pepperdine.edu. Email redirects, directory preferesnces and contact information will still be updated through NetworkID.pepperdine.edu for a few months while those services are migrated to the new MyID.pepperdine.edu platform.

If you haven’t ever setup your NetworkID Services, there’s no better time than now.

Password resets are the number one call we receive at the Help Desk. By logging in now and setting up a NetworkID profile you can later reset your password using either your cell phone, a non-Pepperdine personal email account or the more familiar secret question methods commonly available on websites.

A NetworkID profile provides critical information to verify the identity of any user who has forgotten or needs to change their password.

Benefits of a NetworkID profile:

• Self-Service Password Reset
• Change Verification Method
• Change Email Delivery Options
• Edit Directory Preferences and Contact Information

In addition you can find access to the new Google Apps at Pepperdine. Signing up for this service enables your Pepperdine Email via the popular Google Gmail system as well as offering access to other great Google Apps: Drive (for online collaberation), Calendaring (for scheduling), Google Talk (for chat) and more. Please note that if you chose to use Gmail to manage your Pepperdine email account your email will no longer be available via Webmail.Pepperdine.Edu

Microsoft has implemented an important security measure that you should know about. Other services like Google (and recently Apple) have already offered similar security measures, making Microsoft a little late to the game. Microsoft had used this feature in specific instances in the past, but now offers it across all your accounts. If you use Hotmail, Outlook, or other Microsoft services, you now have the ability to secure your account with 2-Step authentication. 2-Step authentication, in short, is a way to ensure that the person logging into the account is the actual owner, and requires an additional step to log into an account.

If it has been a while since you last logged in, Microsoft will first require you to authenticate yourself by submitting a code they will send. The form is pre-populated to ensure the code is sent to an account you own.

When you receive your code, you need to enter it in the form and click submit. If you are on a personal computer that isn’t shared with anyone else, you might check the box to avoid adding the code in future visits. If your computer is shared, or you are on a public computer, do not check this box.

Once you submit your code, you should be taken to your account page. From there, you can choose to set up 2-Step authentication.

Setting up 2-Step authentication is pretty straightforward. If you’ve gone through the previous steps, the process should look familiar.

You will need to choose where the code is sent, and then submit the code to verify your account belongs to you.

Once you’ve submitted your code, you are done. 2-Step authentication is now set up.

While this may seem like a lot of trouble, and adds a bit of nuisance to your log-in process, the effort is worth it – particularly with Microsoft accounts. I use an old account with my various MSN services, and it is frequently being locked out by people who share a similar name. This will ideally reduce the number of times I have to reset my password due to lock-outs. Other than this convenience, the account is that much more secure. It is a good idea to keep your important information as secure as possible. 2-step authentication is one of many avenues available to you.

Google users have had 2-step authentication for some time now. Apple recently added 2-step authentication to iCloud and Apple ID. Now that Microsoft is using 2-step authentication, all three major mobile device brands are helping you secure your information. It is up to you to let them help.

As always, you can find helpful security tips here on LawTech, or on the Information Security site. Let us know if you need any help getting started.