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University Information Technology has set out to update the style and security of the U’s login portal.
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Scott Sherman, a communications specialist for University IT, and Mike Ekstrom, the director of Common Infrastructure Services, say the security systems will be an improvement for the U. However, changes to logins will not be obvious for a month or two.
“Our long-term goal is to provide a framework as a common solution in all applications that university staff and students use,” Ekstrom said. “We can offer more security through this framework.”
Changes begin with the Central Authentication System (CAS), the formal log-in screen that appears on campus sites like Canvas and CIS. It’s the wall where an individual’s information is stored. University IT is working with a multi-factor authentication as the new security system which Sherman described as having one or more ways for someone to prove they are who they claim to be. Sherman compared the process to when a platform like Twitter sends a text informing someone their account has been logged into.
“We are changing this to keep up with time,” Sherman said. “It is time to update and make it align with the rest of universities’ login pages.”
Ekstrom referenced Google allowing users with accounts to sign up for more security as a prime example of what they hope to achieve. The system will allow users to personalize their identification with passwords they know and will allow cell phone use for their convenience.
They hope having this system embedded in CAS will prevent hacks and account breaches. It will be able to recover accounts without allowing access to the individual’s phone or further information.
“The big thing we want to get out is that the log-in screen is going to look different,” Sherman said. “Everyone will notice that it is different, and they need to know that is legitimate and that we are only updating the site.”
Although the official announcement of the changes to the log-in pages have not yet been made, both Sherman and Ekstrom say when the changes happen, it will be legitimate. According to Sherman and University IT, hackers have been known to duplicate the look of log-in pages to trick students and faculty into a phishing scam. They hope the new look and the security behind it will help prevent this from happening.
“The groundwork is being made for when the user community demands it and is ready for it,” Ekstrom said. “It will be an option whether or not to use it.”
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