Tag Archives: Security

Tech Sharecase, 5 May 2017

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Stephen Francoeur

Google Docs Phishing

We started off our meeting today with a discussion of the recent hack of Google Docs that saw millions of users getting email messages inviting them to view a fake Google Doc. We discussed how Google had taken the step of removing all the suspected phishing emails from people’s inboxes.

Guide on the Side for Library Tutorials

We returned to a topic that has come up in previous Tech Sharecases: the open source software, Guide on the Side, that libraries can use to design information literacy tutorials. Although the CUNY Office of Library Services set up the software on a server a few years ago at the recommendation of LILAC, Hunter College did the same on their own a few years earlier and has some tutorials online (not all of them seem to have been updated yet to match the new library website).

The larger context for the discussion of Guide on the Side are the Flash-based tutorials our library developed with Kognito a decade ago. Some of these continue to be used even though the content is a bit out of date (some of the databases have been canceled and some have been renamed or wholly redesigned). Some examples of our tutorials that could use some attention because they are still being used are the Beginner’s Guide to Business Research and Research for Oral Presentations.

Audio for Augmented Reality

We watched a video review of the Hear One wireless earbuds, which can automatically adjust sound levels in response to the environment you are in.

Next Meeting of the Tech Sharecase

Although we haven’t scheduled any meetings for the summer, it is likely we’ll try to meet up a few times (maybe on Thursdays once we get to the f0ur-day workweek). Stay tuned!

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Tech Sharecase, 5 May 2017

Tech Sharecase on 10 May 2016

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Stephen Francoeur

Phone Hacking

We started off by watching this 60 Minutes piece from April 17 about how easy it is for hackers to gain total access to your phone if all they have is your cell phone number (yikes!)

We looked at this funny series of images taken by a parent’s phone camera as their son tried unsuccessfully to log into the device (thereby triggering this security feature).

Ryan recommended this Lifehacker post about why smartphone security matters and what you can do to make your phone more secure and this chart in Statista showing the results of a survey in the UK about what people do and don’t do to keep their phones safe.

We also talked about the problem Android phones have in the erratic scheduling of updates and patches, which is due to the variety of manufacturers dealing with these upgrade issues in different ways. Ryan shared this related blog post about how the FCC and FTC are looking more closely into the way carriers are pushing out patches.

We also discussed password managers, like LastPass, and VPNs, as ways to keep your devices more secure.

Redesign of the library search bar

I offered a preview of what the new search bar will look like when it gets launched this summer. I summarized the work that’s taken place since last November:

  • Usability tests in November/December 2015 on the existing search bar (goal was to identify existing problems and look for design ideas from users)
  • Query log analyses and site analytics in January-March 2016 to identify usage trends
  • Usability tests in March of two different prototypes of a new search bar
  • Usability tests in April of a new course reserves page

Work that remains to be done includes:

  • Usability tests in May of new databases page
  • Launch of new course reserves page in May
  • Development of a fully functional prototype of the new search bar in June and usability testing of it
  • Launch in June or July of new search bar and databases page
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Tech Sharecase on 10 May 2016