Updates to ithelp.hancockcollege.edu
Dear Allan Hancock College Community,
We are excited to announce that the ITS website, ithelp.hancockcollege.edu, has been updated with a new layout, design, and resource map. These improvements are designed to make navigating and accessing IT resources easier and more intuitive. We invite you to explore the new site and share your feedback through this form.
Desktop:
Mobile:
California Community Colleges - California Virtual Campus
We are pleased to announce that Allan Hancock College is now live with the California Virtual Campus (CVC). The CVC is a digital resource that allows students to enroll in online courses across all 115 California Community Colleges, excluding Calbright College. This platform provides a seamless experience for students by offering instant enrollment in online classes without the need for separate applications.
How Does CVC Work?
- Students can search for classes at any integrated college within the California Community College system via cvc.edu.
- They can add online classes to their schedule based on their needs, with live seat counts and total course prices displayed.
- Classes that are available for instant enrollment will be indicated, as well as the requirements they fulfill based on various academic transfer programs.
- CVC Exchange classes are accessible through the student’s Canvas homepage.
Benefits for Students:
- Easy, equitable access to thousands of course offerings from all California Community Colleges.
- Accelerates degree completion or transfer to a university.
- Avoids delays caused by high-demand classes at the home college.
- A flat rate of $46 per unit ($31 per unit for quarter colleges).
- Facilitates continued education amid COVID-19 and accommodates full-time work schedules or family obligations.
Banner Maintenance
Starting June 24th, we will begin linking to the new Banner 9 class search on the public website, replacing the old Banner 8 class search. Both sites will remain live; however, we will no longer direct students to Banner 8. Our focus will be on ensuring that the Banner 9 search is fully functional and accurate. You can access the new search through "Select a Term" on Banner 9.
Updates from Technology Council and Committees
- Web Services Committee
- Schedule: Meetings are held bi-monthly, usually on the 1st Thursday, from 9:30-11:00 am.
- Update: No updates from May.
- Educational Technology Advisory Committee (EdTAC)
- Schedule: Meetings are held bi-monthly, usually on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday, from 2:30-4:00 pm.
- Update: No updates from May.
- Banner Committee
- Schedule: Meetings are held monthly, usually on the 2nd Monday, from 9:00 - 10:30 am.
- Update: No updates from May.
- Technology Council
- Schedule: Meetings are held bi-monthly, usually on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday, from 2:30-4:00 pm.
- Update: No updates from May.
Ticketing Report Summary
We've compiled a summary of ticketing reports to highlight trends and areas for improvement:
Total Tickets (Whole Department)
- March: 428
- April: 510
- May: 454
5 Most Common Ticket Types from May:
- Something Broke: 118 tickets
- I Can't Sign In: 53 tickets
- Problem Form: 45 tickets
- Install Something: 38 tickets
- Computer Help (for ithelp@hancockcollege.edu): 35 tickets
5 Most Common Locations Requesting Support from May:
- Building A: 29 requests
- Building L: 20 requests
- Building M: 19 requests
- Building B: 19 requests
- Building F: 17 requests
Tech History
The Curious History of Captain Crunch and Phone Phreaking
In the 1960s and 70s, a subculture of early hackers known as "phone phreaks" emerged, experimenting with the phone system to make free calls and explore the network. One of the most fascinating chapters in this story involves a cereal box whistle and a man nicknamed Captain Crunch. Reference articles can be found here: Cereal Box Whistle Hacking | How Did Apple Start? (popularmechanics.com), Cap'n Crunch Whistle and Secrets of the Little Blue Box (telephone-museum.org, John Draper - Wikipedia.
- Captain Crunch and the Cereal Box Whistle: John Draper, better known as Captain Crunch, discovered a peculiar method to manipulate the phone system. The whistle, included as a toy in boxes of Cap'n Crunch cereal, could produce a 2600 Hz tone, the exact frequency used by AT&T's long-distance switching system to indicate an open line. When blown into a phone receiver, it tricked the system into granting access to make free calls.
- The Science Behind It: The phone system operated on a set of audible tones that controlled routing and billing. By generating these specific tones, phone phreaks could navigate the network undetected. The 2600 Hz tone would reset the line, allowing phreaks to input additional tones to route calls without charge.
In today’s digital age, protecting our online accounts is more crucial than ever. Yet, password cracking remains a common threat. Attack methods have grown more complex and commonly include Brute Force Attacks and Dictionary Attacks. Here’s how you can protect yourself:
- Use Complex Passwords: Lengthy passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters are harder to crack.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This adds an extra layer of security, requiring a second form of verification.
- Avoid Reusing Passwords: Unique passwords for each account prevent a single breach from compromising multiple accounts.
Stay safe and secure online!