Category Archives: Students

Anything relating to student devices

Credit, Security Breaches, and Freezes – Protect Yourself!

While this is not normal subject matter for the MDS Tech site,  this IS a part of the digital life we are living that we all have to deal with.

The recent massive Equifax security breach is a huge example of network breaches that occur just about every day. One of the problems is that the thieves will often sit on the data until things cool down -i.e. people forget about it – THEN they try to use or sell the stolen data to steal people’s identities.

What can they do with it?

  • Buy stuff for themselves, but you get the bill is common.
  • So is getting ID papers using your credentials – opening accounts, not paying for things….ruinng YOUR credit and not theirs.

What can YOU do about it?

Freeze your credit. If you have ANY banking/payments/accounts, you probably have a file at the three credit agencies – which is sometimes true even if you are only 12 years old. Freezing your credit means that no one can open an account in your name with the PIN number – and for heaven’s sake, don’t lose that number [NOR should you carry it in your wallet or purse!]

In Georgia it costs $3 to freeze your credit unless you have been a victim of ID theft. You would unfreeze it if you are applying for credit at a new institution – any place you ALREADY have a financial relationship with already has permission to access your info.

These articles have more [easy to read] information, plus links to get started:

MackinVIA – the MDS Digital LIbrary

Here’s how to login to the MDS Digital Library using the app MackinVIA on your iPad.


Find the app MackinVIA.

Doubleclick to open.

A login screen will come up. IF YOU ARE PROMPTED FOR A SCHOOL, go to “First time login” below.  IF YOU SEE OUR SCHOOL – Mount de Sales Academy – go to “Ongoing login” below.

FIRST TIME LOGIN

The school name is entered once. Type in “mount de” (no quotes but with a space) – and then wait for the school name to pop up. Tap on the school name.  

Typing too fast OR not paying attention to the screen may result in selecting the wrong school.  If that has happened, swipe out of the app and start again.  

Entering the school name is only a one time process.

 

ONGOING LOGIN – Check school name

Your username is your FULL mds email address —-> for example, mds12345@mountdesales.net

Password is the same as your Moodle password.


TO FIND A BOOK

  1. Tap the “hamburger menu” – 3 horizontal bars – at the top left. Then select the purple bar —-> categories. You will find that the MackinVIA categoreis match the categories in the ARC.
  2. Anytime you wish to return to the categories, look at the upper left – there will be either a stylized back arrow or 3 horizontal bars.
  3. Also under the 3 horizontal bars is the ability to exit (log off). Here is what the Categories view looks like:

Click around to browse through a section. Click on a book to see more information OR to check the book out. Once you check out a book it will automatically download to your iPad. 

You can only checkout one book at a time. You can return a book at any time, but when the 2 weeks (or 4 weeks with renewal) timeframe has been reached, the app will check the book back into the database for you.  You will have to check it out again

The stylized arrow in the upper left will return to the category page with the book icons.  

If you get lost, close the app and start again, or come to the ARC for help.

Remember that EXIT is under the three horizontal bars found in the upper left.


FINDING A SPECIFIC BOOK

  • Start with the screen above that has a purple “title” bar.  
  • On the right side of this bar is the magnifying glass (universal “search” icon).  
  • Enter the name of the book and tap “go” or tap the magnifying glass.
  • You will see the book that matches your search.  
  • Click on the black button labelled “Checkout”, which will allow you to read the book for 2 weeks. You can renew it once for an additional 2 weeks, and then the book will automatically be checked back in again.
  • You can only checkout one book at a time.

 

Click on your name to see this list.

Favorites = list of books where you clicked the “FAVORITE button.

Notebook has notes you copy/pasted or typed.

Checkouts has the books you have checked out.

 

 

Open Now = there are a practically unlimited number
of copies available.

Add to Favorites = there is a favorites list available.

Checkout = there are a limited number of copies available,
similar to the way physical books work.

Two additional buttons appear after a book is checked out:
Return and Renew

 

iPad Setup details

What buttons to push to get your iPad setup:

1) Get on the Network

• Find the Settings app
• Click Wi-Fi
• Select the network MDS-Student
• A page SHOULD come up asking you for your MDS number and Password. Use JUST the mds##### part and your Moodle password.
• If it does NOT come up:  Fire up a web browser [Safari/Chrome/Firefox] and go to a webpage that is OFFcampus and you’ve never visited before – like HamSandwichTees.com] That should trigger the login page.
• If the link at the top right never changes to Done after you login, AND you’ve waited 60 seconds – go back and try it again.
• If it gives you an error message, it’s likely you mistyped your password. Try again.

2) Email

• If setting up a new account – Settings –> Mail –> Accounts –>add Account.
• GOOGLE is the correct type.
• Login. If the sliders turn green, you are in.
• It isn’t setup until you click the SAVE link.

3) Google Drive

• Fire it up.
•  Login.
• It’s your MDS email address and Moodle password.
• Once in, click on the “hamburger menu” – the 3 stacked lines top left.
• Settings –> Photos.
•  Both sliders turned blue.

Now your pictures and videos will automatically be copied to a folder named Google Photos in your Drivespace.

You can delete a photo or video from your iPad safely – the copy will remain in Drive until you manually delete it from there.

4) Notability

• Fire it up.
• Get past the intro screens, if they appear.
• On the bottom right, click the Gear icon [settings].
• Select AUTOBACKUP –> Google Drive
• Login [if it asks].

Once done, anything you create in Notability will be automatically backed up to Google Drive, inside a folder named NOTABILITY, but only when you exit the document and get back to the front screen where your documents are listed in Notability.

5) AppleID

This is primarily so Find My iPad works, and secondarily as a backup.

• Open up Settings. On the top left, if you see your name. you are connected.
• If your name is there, AND there is a red notification, click it. It is probably asking you to setup Two-Factor-Authenticaion. DON’T – it creates headaches. Click the link to say “No thanks”. [If you already did – oh, well. We’ll deal with the headaches later.]
• If your name is NOT there – click there, and login.
• Remember: No number in moodle, add 1871 to the end to make your AppleID password. Missing an Upper or Lowercase letter? Change the case of the first letter.
• Can’t remember your AppleID password? Do the “I Forgot” dance – you’ll see a link onscreen.
• Never had an account? Come by the ARC.

You MUST use your MDS email address for an AppleID – don’t use an iCloud address, don’t use a personal email.
Use your moodle password for AppleID password.
DON’T turn on Two-Factor-Authentication if it’s an option to not use it [ but you might be required. Use YOUR cell phone if that’s true.]