eID password deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 14

Tomorrow, Feb. 14, is the deadline for all K-State eIDs to get their password changed for spring semester. This includes individual eIDs as well as group accounts. As of noon today, 10,123 eID passwords still need to be changed. To change your password:

1. Go to the eid.k-state.edu site and sign in to your eProfile.
2. Under Password Settings, click Change your eID password or password-reset options.
3. Choose a new password and type it into the two boxes provided.
4. Click the Change password button.

This year, two more password rules were added for improved security:

• Passwords must be 7-8 characters long (previously 6-8).
• Passwords must contain characters from 3 of 4 categories:
  • Uppercase letters
  • Lowercase letters
  • Numbers
  • Special characters (!, @, #, $, 5, ^, &, *, etc.)

See What are the password requirements? in the Password FAQs. For security reasons, passwords cannot be reused within a two-year period. If you need assistance, contact the IT Help Desk at 785-532-7722.

Extended Daylight Saving Time to affect K-State IT, infrastructure

As a result of the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005, Daylight Saving Time (DST) will start earlier and end later for the next four years, adding four weeks more each year. This year, it starts Sunday, March 11, and ends Sunday, Nov. 4. While some people may welcome the change, others are cringing at the number of infrastructure, systems, and individual machines that may be affected by the extended hours.

Most operating systems have a patch available that will either automatically update or require a manual installation. In addition to operating systems, the applications, middleware, and firmware on computers may need to be patched to make sure they work appropriately. Check system vendors to see what they are doing about it. The link at the end of the article has consolidated many vendors' links to their pages about Daylight Saving in their software.

At K-State, computers in the InfoCommons and university computing labs will be automatically updated. K-Calendar also will be updated with the new DST hours.

K-State Facilities will manually change clocks on their systems in order for alarm systems, punch clocks, and other control systems to be changed that weekend to reflect the new time. Units that have isolated physical systems that depend on time not managed by facilities should contact your facilities manager or system administrator to make sure it is being updated.

For specific information about updates for operating systems, see these sites:

• edgeblog.net: Daylight Saving Time -- The Year 2007 Problem
• sans.org: Day Light Saving Change for 2007
• microsoft.com: Daylight Saving Time Help and Support Center

Upcoming TechBytes sessions: Podcasting; digital photos

This week: "Podcasting and You: Easy Podcasting through K-State Online". 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, Union 213.
Brent Anders will answer these questions and more: Why make a podcast? What are the pros and cons? How are other universities using podcasts? How does one make an audio podcast? How does one make a video podcast? What are the costs associated with each? Once I make a podcast, how does K-State Online come into the picture?

Next week: "Taking Your Digital Photos from the Camera to the Web". 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, Union 213.

Vista resources listed on new K-State webpage

A K-State Microsoft Vista webpage was created Feb. 9 to compile resources on the new Windows operating system. The new page includes:

• Feb. 6 Microsoft presentation (PowerPoint and PDF versions)
• Microsoft's just-released "Downgrade rights" chart
• Links to more resources for users and technical staff

Microsoft Office 2007 presentation Feb. 21

Representatives from Microsoft Corp. will be on campus Wednesday, Feb. 21, to present the new Office 2007. The session will be 2-4 p.m. in the Big 12 Room in the K-State Student Union. All K-Staters are welcome.

Tell IT online forum Feb. 16: Technology classrooms

The second session of the Tell IT online discussion forum is 2-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 on "Technology Classrooms".

To join in the conversation, you never have to leave your desk, just e-mail TellTuesday@k-state.edu to be added to the roster in the "Tell IT" K-State Online course. If you miss the live session, sign in to "Tell IT" in your Course Organizer in K-State Online and review the Archives.

Free training in Photoshop, iMovie, Dreamweaver, InDesign

K-State students, faculty, and staff interested in learning to use digital media software now have the option to attend training sessions in the Media Development Center, in 213 Hale Library (adjacent to the IT Help Desk). No registration is needed; just come to the center at the listed times/dates below. For more information, call the center at 532-7422.

Intro to Photoshop
3 p.m. Saturdays -- March 3, April 7
Participants will be given step-by-step instruction in the creation of a poster. The March theme will be St. Patrick's Day, ad April's will be Daylight Saving Time.

Intro to iMovie
3 p.m. Saturdays -- Feb. 10, March 10, April 21
This class will help students understand the basics of digital video as it applies to iMovie. The class will cover the basics, from importing and capturing to exporting and saving movies.

Intro to Dreamweaver MX
6 p.m. Tuesdays -- Feb. 13, March 13, April 17
This class will show students the basics of web design. It will cover the different parts of a webpage and how to upload the site to K-State's personal-pages server.

Intro to InDesign
6 p.m. Wednesdays -- Feb. 14, March 14, April 11
This class will teach the basics of the InDesign layout program. The instructor will show participants how to build a poster/flier using the commands in the program.

5 new staff join Information Systems Office

Ron Jackson, Glen Perrier, and Krishna Vamsi Ramavat are joining ISO as systems specialists in Application Development Services. Ron started on Feb. 12. Glen and Krishna will start March 12.

Kevin Yaussi and David Bishop have joined ISO as Oracle database administrators in Database Management Services. Kevin started Jan. 29. David started Feb. 12.

ISO is continuing its search for another Oracle database administrator.

Security tip: Windows Vista Security Guide

As you plan your department's transition to Windows Vista, you need to carefully consider the configuration of the security features in Vista. Vista contains:

• Many new security features, like User Access Controls and BitLocker
• Products previously available separately that are now bundled with Vista, like Windows Defender and the Malicious Software Removal Tool
• Enhancements to existing tools, like Windows Firewall and Group Policy Objects

Microsoft has produced a useful (and free!) reference to assist you in your planning. K-State system administrators should read Windows Vista Security Guide and refer to it often as they develop their Vista deployment plan. It provides specific recommendations and an overview of security features, and also lists and describes the security configuration options that can be set through group policy. Be aware, though, that not all security features are available in all editions of Vista, which is all the more reason to get this guide and plan carefully.

IT by the numbers: Top 3 places where K-Staters forward e-mail

Last week we looked at the places where K-Staters forward their e-mail.

• 1,115 eIDs are set to forward their e-mail to Hotmail
• 959 are set to forward to Yahoo
• 889 are set to forward to Gmail
• More than 20 other destinations are getting e-mail forwarded from K-State

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Managing editor
     Betsy Edwards
Associate editor
     Aimee Hagedorn
Executive editor
     Rebecca Gould

mashup   A website or application that combines content from two or more sources. See 50 Things to do with Google Maps Mashups.

Popular IT

IT events
and deadlines

Feb. 14 (Wed)
eID password-change deadline for spring semester.

Feb. 14 (Wed)
TechBytes: "Podcasting and You: Easy Podcasting through K-State Online". more
1:30 p.m. Union 213

Feb. 14 (Wed)
Free one-hour training: "Intro to InDesign". Open to all K-Staters.
6 p.m. 213 Hale Library

Feb. 15 (Thu)
Graduate Student Forum on ETDR.
4-5 p.m. Union Little Theatre

Feb. 21 (Wed)
IDT Roundtable: "Horizon Wimba". 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Union 212

Feb. 21 (Wed)
TechBytes: "Taking Your Digital Photos from the Camera to the Web".
1:30 p.m. Union 213

Feb. 21 (Wed)
Microsoft Office 2007 presentation. Open to all K-Staters.
2-4 p.m. Union Big 12 Room

Feb. 21 (Wed)
K-State units: Deadline for delivering magnetic tapes to Hale Library basement for secure shredding.

Feb. 27 (Tue)
Provost's lecture: "Chaos Breeds Life: Imperatives Defining the Future Relevance and Impact of the Academic Research Library" by James Neal, vice president for information services and university librarian at Columbia University. 1:30-3 p.m. Hemisphere Room, Hale Library

Feb. 28 (Wed)
TechBytes: "Collaborating with IRC (Internet Relay Chat)".
1:15 p.m. Union 213

March 3 (Sat)
Free one-hour training: "Intro to Photoshop". Open to all K-Staters.
3 p.m. 213 Hale Library

March 7 (Wed)
TechBytes: "Creating Community with a Community Blog".
1:15 p.m. Union 213

March 9 (Fri)
SIRT Roundtable: "Trend Micro license key renewal". Open to all K-Staters. 9:15-10:30 a.m. Union Staterooms 1 and 2.

March 10 (Sat)
Free one-hour training: "Intro to iMovie". Open to all K-Staters.
3 p.m. 213 Hale Library

March 13 (Tue)
Free one-hour training: "Intro to Dreamweaver MX". Open to all K-Staters.
6 p.m. 213 Hale Library

March 14 (Wed)
Free one-hour training: "Intro to InDesign". Open to all K-Staters.
6 p.m. 213 Hale Library

March 15 (Wed)
TechBytes: "Record, Edit and Share with Camtasia Studio".
1:15 p.m. Union 213

March 28 (Wed)
IDT Roundtable: "Podcasting and RSS from within K-State Online!" 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Union 212

March 28 (Wed)
TechBytes: "Transitioning from the PC to the Mac".
1:15 p.m. Union 213

April 6 (Fri)
SIRT Roundtable: "Encryption on mobile devices (recommendations from SIRT committee)". Open to all K-Staters. 9:15-10:30 a.m. Union 213.

April 7 (Sat)
Free one-hour training: "Intro to Photoshop". Open to all K-Staters.
3 p.m. 213 Hale Library

April 11 (Wed)
Free one-hour training: "Intro to InDesign". Open to all K-Staters.
6 p.m. 213 Hale Library

April 17 (Tue)
Free one-hour training: "Intro to Dreamweaver MX". Open to all K-Staters.
6 p.m. 213 Hale Library

April 19 (Thu)
IDT Roundtable: "Creating and Using Digital Learning Objects (LOs)". 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Union 212

April 21 (Sat)
Free one-hour training: "Intro to iMovie". Open to all K-Staters.
3 p.m. 213 Hale Library

Fall 2007
Masters students will be required to submit theses and reports electronically.

The Import Questions tab in the Question Manager tool allows you to import questions that you may have from a textbook or other source.

The file to be imported must be in a plain text format (not a Word document or other file types). Multiple Choice and Short Answer question types are currently supported.

To import, you model what the questions and answers look like in your file. The Question Preview area changes each time you indicate the format of your file, so you can watch and be sure it matches what you are importing.

Follow the on-screen directions and then once you successfully import, the questions will be placed in a folder in your Question Bank under the name of the course you are in and in a subfolder with the date.

You can also create a new folder with a different name, and move the imported questions into that folder.

Another layer of defense against spam

Late last week, K-State created another layer of defense against spam by adding another real-time block list, the Spamhaus Policy Block List. It is based off of ISP policies and whether their customers should be sending e-mail directly from their IPs. To read more about it, see Spamhaus's Policy Block List Advisory.

As a result, 14 percent more spam is being blocked before it reaches K-Staters inboxes. Below are some spam stats from a typical day's worth of incoming e-mail. This shows that 75 percent of all e-mail coming to K-State is being blocked as spam at the campus border by block lists and other filtering mechanisms:

   264,744 (14%)   blocked by Spamhaus Policy Block List (the new one added)
    28,988 (1.5%)  blocked by Spamhaus Block List
   209,123 (11%)   blocked by Spamhaus Exploits Block List
   706,372 (37%)   blocked by Spamcop
    28,622 (1.5%)  blocked by "border" SpamAssassin
   188,550 (9.8%)  blocked by a pre-greeting SMTP check
 1,426,399 (74.8%) TOTAL SPAM BLOCKED

This means about 25 percent (502,124) of e-mail messages are being delivered daily to K-State inboxes. At that point, your personalized spam-filtering takes over and filters your mail as designated by your settings.

Accessibility made easy: Browser-based screen reader

Ever wonder what it's like to navigate the Internet if you can't see what you're doing? Do your eyes get tired, staring at the computer screen for hours on end? Do you learn better by listening than by reading? Would you like to have some webpages read to you?

Check out Fire Vox, an extension for the Mozilla Firefox browser (download and more information is at firevox.clcworld.net). Fire Vox is a simplified text-to-speech reader that is managed through customizable keyboard shortcuts. For users who want to use their mouse to control the reader, they can download an alternate version of the reader called .CliCk, Speak. (see web page listed above). If you missed it in the Jan. 30 article in InfoTech Tuesday, WebAIM.org (Web Accessibility in Mind) has a great article on Firefox accessibility issues.

Fire Vox will work with K-State Online. Let's say, for example, that you are taking an online exam. Simply highlight the question text, press Ctrl+Shift+O, and listen. It may take some getting used to (and doesn't work so well with multiple-choice questions) but it can be a help.

Web developers. Fire Vox can be a quick and easy way to see how a reader will react to the structure of your page -- for example, how a reader will handle those multiple-choice questions (see above) that you formatted so nicely in a table. It will not replace the necessity of testing your pages with popular screen-reading software such as JAWS and WindowEyes, but it can be handy.

The down side? Fire Vox relies on keyboard shortcuts to control the program, and these seem to interfere with the Developer's Toolbar extension. To work around this, you can create multiple profiles in Firefox. This will allow you to choose "versions" of Firefox with different extensions, themes, etc. installed just by selecting it when you launch the browser. For details, see How to Manage Profiles in Firefox.

And most importantly, remember Ctrl+Shift+C. This command makes the browser STOP talking!