[Nov 23, 2009 14:09] Web access to Microsoft Live@edu accounts now works.
Frequently-Asked Questions about NetBadge
Following is a list of common questions about NetBadge, including what it is and how it works:
Answers to Frequently-Asked Questions
- What's a NetBadge, and how do I get one?
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A NetBadge is an electronic identification “badge” that is issued to your Web browser when you log into the NetBadge service. Many websites on the UVa network are protected by NetBadge, so whenever you visit one of these websites, your browser automatically presents your NetBadge to identify you to the website.
If you visit a protected website and your browser does not have a NetBadge yet, you are automatically redirected to the NetBadge login page. After you log in, your browser receives a NetBadge, and returns you to the protected website you were originally attempting to access, presenting your NetBadge to identify you.
You can also log into NetBadge directly via the login page at https://netbadge.virginia.edu. Note: If you have already logged into NetBadge in the past few hours, your NetBadge session is still active, so visiting this page will not give you login options. Instead, you will see information about your existing NetBadge session, such as how much longer it is valid.
- How do I change my NetBadge password?
- NetBadge is not a UVa computing account in itself. Instead, it uses your UVa ID and password from your other computing accounts. So, to change the password you use for NetBadge, change the password for one of your other accounts.
- How long is my NetBadge valid?
- If you log in from the UVa network (if you are on Grounds or using UVa Anywhere), then your NetBadge is valid for 9 hours. If you log in from outside the UVa network, then your NetBadge lasts 1 hour. For more details, see How NetBadge Works.
- What is a personal digital certificate?
- A digital certificate is like an ID card you can use to identify yourself to websites, including NetBadge. Logging into NetBadge with the digital certificate option is more secure than logging in with your computing ID and password because it reduces the chances you fall for a phishing scam—a false website designed by criminals to look like NetBadge but that really steals your login credentials. To find out more about digital certificates, and how to get one, see Personal Digital Certificates.
- What happens if I try to access a protected site after my NetBadge expires?
- That’s not a problem. If your NetBadge has expired, then your browser is automatically redirected to the login page, where you can log in again to obtain a new NetBadge.
- How can I disable my NetBadge?
- The best way is to exit your browser completely. Your browser saves your NetBadge in memory and automatically presents it whenever necessary. Completely exiting your browser destroys the NetBadge. To find out more about logging out of NetBadge, including what to do if for some reason you are unable to exit your browser completely, see How to Log Out.
- Why would I ever want to disable my NetBadge?
- If you have a browser open with your NetBadge loaded, and you leave your computer unattended, anyone else can simply sit down at your computer and use your browser to view personal information about you or perform electronic transactions using your identity! That's why fully logging out of NetBadge is so important.
- NetBadge isn’t working for me. What's the problem?
- When you’re troubleshooting a NetBadge problem, remember these 2 (possibly 3) likely culprits:
- Changing the way your browser handles cookies: If you have configured your browser to disable cookies, NetBadge has no way of knowing what website you were attempting to access that sent you to NetBadge, or how to get you back to it once you’ve logged in and gotten your NetBadge. If you configure your browser to present a cookie only to the same site that issued it, or to block cookies that come from UVa, that also breaks NetBadge. The solution is to restore your browser’s cookie-handling configuration back to its default state.
- Content Advisor in Internet Explorer: Content Advisor interferes with the fundamental operating mechanism of NetBadge. In order to make NetBadge work, you will need to disable Content Advisor.
- Enabling Javascript: Javascript must be enabled for NetBadge to work properly. If you have Javascript disabled, you are likely not getting to websites other than NetBadge either.
- How does NetBadge work “under the hood?”
- The NetBadge service uses Pubcookie software. A NetBadge is a collection of HTTP “cookies” issued to your browser, which your browser saves in memory and automatically presents to web sites when necessary. To learn more about the inner workings of the service, visit our page on How NetBadge Works.