Computer Chronicles
Version 8.2, November Dispatch
Gearing up for the Holidays
The majority of the new Chromebooks have been installed in the carts at both schools. I am currently working on making the older Chromebooks available to your classroom after minor damages have been repaired and they are updated. Stay tuned for more info on that front.
In other news, Windows 7 is reaching the End of Life (EOL) next January. In order to get a jump on this massive undertaking, I will begin updating your desktop PCs to Windows 10 starting in January. Keep an eye out for details in the New Year.
With the holiday season quickly approaching, you must remain vigilant and take proactive steps to safeguard your school, personal and financial data.
To help combat the threats posed by cyber criminals this year, the NJCCIC has compiled a list of tips and best practices to assist you in staying safe while shopping in stores and online throughout the year and especially during the holiday season.
Please take a look: https://www.cyber.nj.gov/be-sure-to-secure/staying-cyber-safe-while-shopping
Thanks for reading.
Scam of the Week: Fortnite and League of Legends Phishing Attacks
The bad guys are targeting game players on the Fortnite and League Of Legends platforms. They are basically going directly after your children using phishing and social media. Specifically, they are offering free v-bucks, a digital currency used to buy virtual goods in Fortnite, but worth real money.
Please make kids aware that there are literally thousands of scam sites out there, trying to rope them in with social engineering tactics. Teach your kids to Think Before They Click! The best way to avoid scams is to only purchase v-bucks directly from the "Fortnite" store — and never share your account information online.
Visit our Security Awareness page often for updates.
Shop Safe This Holiday Season
Holiday shopping is already upon us, and many shoppers want to buy the latest smart gadgets for their loved ones. While these products may offer amazing features, there is something else important to keep in mind: privacy.
Time and time again we have seen internet-of-things (IoT) devices lacking proper security: failing to use encryption, default accounts, location tracking, not deleting stored data, and unnecessarily sharing your data with third-parties.
Mozilla provides a list of this year’s popular tech products and offers security ratings based on these metrics. Remember to keep these security concerns in mind and do research before buying an internet-connected device this holiday season.
Changes to the Google sign-in interface coming soon
Starting November 27th, 2018, Google is making some small changes to the appearance of the Google sign-in page. These follow changes made earlier this year, which updated the sign-in page to match the Material Design principles used in other Google products.
Specifically, you might notice outlines around some entry fields, and changes to the spacing and styling of other text on both the web and mobile screens. The changes will start to take effect on November 27th and may take up to two weeks to reach all users.
Magni Momenti Notitia
- Visit the updated Information Technology page on the district site. I'd love your feedback.
- "Think before you click."
- If you have a technical issue, please submit a help desk ticket here: https://sapublicschools.freshdesk.com/helpdesk (Be sure to use the Google button to login.)
- What did the turkey say to the computer? Google, google, google :)
Stuff I have been reading:
- Chrome 71 will block any and all ads on sites with “abusive experiences”
- $200K missing in Galloway schools 'cybersecurity incident'
- YouTube Investing $20 Million in Educational Content
- Chrome 70 released with revamped Google account login system
- A shortage of tech workers led this company to start recruiting in middle school
- Michigan wins case on sending money to non-public schools
- The 3 next big programming languages: GitHub's rising stars for 2018
- Coffee Rust Threatens Latin American Crop; 150 Years Ago, It Wiped Out An Empire
It is not about the technology; it’s about sharing knowledge and information, communicating efficiently, building learning communities and creating a culture of professionalism in schools. These are the key responsibilities of all educational leaders.
Michael Elson
Book some time: https://melson.youcanbook.me/
Email: melson@sapublicschools.com
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/sapublicschools.com/tech-t-days/home
Phone: 732.387.3559
Twitter: @mjelson