Change Password & Secret Question Information Technology
ALL CATAWBA USERS Quick Reference Guide Need help? https://helpdesk.catawba.edu or call 704-637-4666 (ext. 4666)
Change Password 1. Login to CatLink 2. On the Home tab, click Change Pass- word link in User Information channel (under photo channel on right of screen). Enter your password, then scroll down 3 to Change Password section of display
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Catawba Password Policy 3. Enter a New Password, and repeat it in (Effective 6/24/2013—changes from previous policy denoted in red) Confirm Password (see box at right for policy and rules on passwords) Must be changed at least every 120 days (approximately 4 months) 4. Click Change button Must be between 8 and 16 characters (no special characters such as # or ;) 5. As soon as you see the “Wait x Must contain at least one letter, one number, and one uppercase letter minutes…” message (appears after you click Change), close ALL open programs Is case-sensitive and SHUT DOWN the computer Can never be reused or repeated 6. Wait at least 5 minutes before rebooting Cannot be similar to your previous password computer and/or attempting to login to Cannot include your username or the word password CatLink with the new password You will be emailed a notification 30 days prior to the deadline to change On campus, shut down your computer (and other your password, and then again at 7 days prior devices) at password change!
Failure to shut down your computer when you change your password while on campus will GREAT tips for changing your Catawba password... prevent you from staying online. You must also shut down any other devices (i.e. smartphone, Do it just before a new semester begins—if you change to a new password tablet, Kindle, etc.) when changing your Cataw- ba password. just before the beginning of each Spring, Summer, and Fall semester, you
If you are off-campus when you change your should be able to avoid having your password expire password (connected to your home network or Do it while you are off campus — you still must close any open Catawba an out-of-town network), you do not have to shut down when you see the “Wait x minutes…” webpages, but you won’t have to shut down your computer message, but you must close CatLink and any Do it just before you shut down your computer for the night—to skip the x other Catawba resources and programs for at least 5 minutes before logging back in with your minute wait; remember to login with your new password the next day new password.
Change Password FAQs Why do I need to shut down my laptop when I change my Catawba password if I’m on campus? If you’re on campus when you change your password, you are logged in to the Catawba network with your “old” password up until the moment when you submit a “new” password. The network can’t keep you connected on both the “old” password and the “new” password at the same time, and will likely drop your network connection. Wait at least 5 minutes before attempting to log in again with the “new” password.
What about my other devices—smartphone, tablet, Kindle, etc.—do I need to turn them off when I change my password? You should put your smartphone in airplane mode before you change your Catawba password. It’s also a very good idea to turn other devices off when changing your Catawba password—wait 5 minutes , turn them back on and update with new password.
I:\CS\Documentation\help desk\PWandSecQues.PDF Page 1 Last revised: 2/18/2014
Secret Question VERY IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT SETTING UP SECRET QUESTION In order to use Secret Question to help you reset a forgotten/expired password, you must set it up BEFORE you need to use it. IT very strongly recommends that you set up Secret Question when you access CATAWBAlerts the very first time. You must have at least one validated email address registered in CATAWBAlerts in order to set up your Secret Question. You will not see the fields for alternate email, secret question or answer until you provide a valid email address in CATAWBAlerts. For more info, click the CatawbAlerts Guide link in the User Information channel of the Home tab.
1. Login to CatLink 2. On the Home tab, click the Secret Questionlink in the User Information channel 3. You’ll see the CATAWBAlerts screen— 4 [email protected] scroll down to Secret Question [email protected] [email protected] 4. On the Alternate Email field, click the [email protected] drop-down arrow to select a validated [email protected] email address [email protected] 5. Click in the Question field and enter a secret question of your choice 6. Click in the Answer field and enter an- [email protected] swer to your secret question (Caution: [email protected] your secret answer is case-sensitive!) 7. Click Update 5 westmoreland 6
How to use Secret Question
1. Go to CatLink login 4. Enter your Username on screen pop-up window, click 2. Click Login—there is no Next button need to enter 5. Enter Secret Question username or password Answer on next pop-up window, click Next button Note that your Secret Question 3. Click Forgot your Answer is case-sensitive and password? link must be typed exactly the same (below red SIGN IN as when you set it up button) 6. You’ll see a notification -pop up to let you know that an email message has been sent to your alternate email ad- dress—open your alternate email and read that message Note: Secret Question 7. You must follow directions in the email message—your resets your password to your social security password will not be reset unless you click link in message number with dashes. If you are unable to use Secret Question to reset your password, you will have to come to the IT Help Desk with photo ID to get it reset. Secret Question FAQs Why can’t I just call the Help Desk and get my password changed, and how can Secret Question help me? For security reasons, the IT Help Desk requires photo identification to reset your password, which means that you must bring photo ID to the Help Desk during business hours—this cannot be done over the phone. When you set up a Secret Question, however, you can reset your password yourself online, without having to physically come to the IT Help Desk.
What if I’m not sure about the question, answer, or email address I used for Secret Question? You can open CATAWBAlerts and check your Secret Question information at any time. If you wish, you can change the question or answer, or select a different email address for your contact—make sure to click Update to submit and process any changes.
I:\CS\Documentation\help desk\PWandSecQues.PDF Page 2 Last revised: 2/18/2014