Kansas State University

search

IT News

Thanksgiving break schedule for the IT Service Desk

Posted on by Christine Doucette

The IT Service Desk will have reduced hours during Thanksgiving break.

On Sunday, Nov. 24, remote services, including phone support, live chat, and service tickets, will be available from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

From Monday, Nov. 25, to Wednesday, Nov. 27, all services including walk-in, phone, live chat, and service tickets will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The IT Service Desk will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28 through Friday, Nov.29.

On Saturday, Nov. 30, remote services will be available, including phone support, live chat, and service tickets, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Regular hours for the IT Service Desk will resume on Sunday, Dec. 1.

You can contact the IT Service Desk at 800-865-6143 or 785-532-7722 or via Live Chat. For face-to-face service, visit the IT Service Desk on the second floor of Hale Library.

Continue reading “Thanksgiving break schedule for the IT Service Desk” →

How to identify scams on social media

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

data from the Federal Trade Commission shows that scams originating on social media have accounted for $2.7 billion in reported losses since 2021Social media is a powerful tool for connecting with friends, sharing experiences, and discovering new content. But it’s also a hotspot for scams. Cybercriminals use clever tactics to trick users into giving up personal information, money, or even access to their accounts. Follow these tips to learn how to spot these scams on social media.

Watch for Red Flags in Messages

Scammers often send messages that look like they’re from someone you know or a trusted company. These messages might ask for personal information, like your password or Social Security number, or try to get you to click on a suspicious link. Be cautious if:

  • The message seems urgent or too good to be true.
  • The person asks for money, especially through gift cards or wire transfers.
  • The language or tone doesn’t sound like the person you know.

Be Wary of Unverified Accounts Continue reading “How to identify scams on social media” →

Streamline your workflow with Quick Steps in Microsoft Outlook on the web

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

Quick Steps are shortcuts that allow you to perform multiple actions on an email with one click. Instead of doing each task separately, Quick Steps helps you streamline your work.

How to Set Up Quick Steps

  1. Open Outlook and go to the Home tab.
  2. On the toolbar, click Quick Steps.
  3. Click Add quick step
  4. In the Name box, type a name for the new Quick Step.
  5. Under Choose an action, select the action that you want the Quick Step to do. Select Add another action for any additional actions.
  6. Click Save.

Quick Step Examples

Continue reading “Streamline your workflow with Quick Steps in Microsoft Outlook on the web” →

Watch out for gift card scams: protect your money and stay safe

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

The holiday season is approaching, and gift card scams are a common tactic used to steal your money. Understanding how this scam works and staying alert can help you avoid becoming a victim.

How the gift card scam works

Gift card scams start with a call, text, email, or social media message. Scammers will try every trick to get you to buy gift cards and hand over the card number and PIN codes. :

Continue reading “Watch out for gift card scams: protect your money and stay safe” →

Free IT equipment checkout

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

The Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab offers a variety of IT equipment that students, faculty and staff can check out for free. Available equipment includes laptops, digital camcorders and cameras, projectors and more.

Equipment reservations can be made by calling 785-532-4918 or emailing
itcheckout@k-state.edu. Equipment can be picked up at the Sunderland Foundation Innovation Lab, Hale Library, Room 235.

Please bring the following with you when you come to checkout equipment:

  • Your eID
  • Your WID
  • Your K-State ID card
  • A direct phone number where you can be reached

See the Equipment Checkout website for details on policies, procedures, and available equipment. Office hours: M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Upgrade to the latest version of Zoom by Nov. 2

Posted on by Christine Doucette

On Nov. 2, Zoom will require all users to upgrade to version 5.17.5 for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows. You can check your Zoom version in the desktop and mobile app and upgrade to the latest version as soon as possible.

Anyone trying to sign in or join a meeting/webinar using a version below 5.17.5 on or after Nov. 2 will be prompted to update Zoom to the current minimum version. If you are unable to update immediately, you can join through the web as an alternative.

Need help? Contact the IT Service Desk at 800-865-6143 or 785-532-7722 or via Live Chat. You can also visit the IT Service Desk on the second floor of Hale Library for in-person help.

Zoom has implemented a Software Quarterly Lifecycle Policy which requires a new minimum version of the software every three months. This policy ensures that all users have the necessary privacy and security updates and access to the latest features.

Protecting student data

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

With the increasing reliance on digital tools and online platforms in education, it’s crucial to ensure that sensitive student information remains confidential and protected from unauthorized access.

Student data includes everything from names and contact details to grades, disciplinary records, and even health information. Unauthorized access or exposure of this data can lead to identity theft, reputational harm, and violations of privacy laws, such as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). Continue reading “Protecting student data” →

Make your Excel data stand out by using conditional formatting

Posted on by Cathy Rodriguez

How to do conditional formatting in ExcelExcel is a powerful tool for managing and analyzing data. Conditional formatting allows you to apply formatting to cells based on specific conditions. This can help you identify important information in your spreadsheet and make your data more visually appealing.

How to apply apply formatting

  1. Select the cells you want to apply the formatting to.
  2. On the Home tab, click the Conditional Formatting menu.
  3. Choose a conditional formatting option, such as Highlight Cell Rules, Top/Bottom Rules, Data Bars, Color Scales, or Icon Sets.
  4. Customize the formatting options to suit your needs, such as choosing the color and font style for the highlighted cells.
  5. If necessary, add multiple conditional formatting rules to a range of cells.
  6. Apply the formatting to the selected cells by clicking the OK button.

Note:

  • Highlight Cell Rules: allows you to highlight cells based on their value. .
  • Top/Bottom Rules: allows you to highlight the top or bottom values in a range of cells.
  • Data Bars: allows you to add a data bar to each cell in a range, which visually represents the cell’s value.
  • Color Scales: allows you to apply a color scale to a range of cells, which will change the color of each cell based on its value.
  • Icon Sets: allows you to add icons to a range of cells, which represent the cell’s value.

For more information on conditional formatting, see Microsoft’s Use Conditional formatting to highlight information article.