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Apple Updates

Apple has recently released updates to its various operating systems. These updates address multiple vulnerabilities, the most severe of which could lead to code execution that could resulting in installing malicious software or even viewing, changing or deleting data.

OIT recommends all Apple users install updates as soon as possible. These apply to iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Safari. Visit your device’s settings to update.

SYSTEMS AFFECTED:

  • iOS and iPadOS prior to 15.3
  • macOS Monterey prior to 12.2
  • macOS Big Sur prior to 11.6.3
  • macOS Catalina prior to security update 2022-001
  • watchOS prior to 8.4
  • tvOS prior to 15.3
  • Safari prior to 15.3

For Mac OS, users are often prompted to the latest version. However, users should not upgrade to Monterey without the latest version of McAfee antivirus software. If you’re not sure, please upgrade to the latest version of your current operating system. This is Big Sur for many users. Click More info to see upgrade options, then select to upgrade Big Sur and Safari.

Update Adobe Acrobat

Adobe has recently released security updates for Adobe Acrobat and Reader for both Windows and Mac. These updates address multiple vulnerabilities, the most severe of which could lead to arbitrary code execution. Please update Adobe Acrobat on your computer as soon as possible.

To update, open the Adobe Acrobat or Reader application, Click “Help” in the menu bar, then “Check for Updates.”

More information is available on Adobe’s Security Bulletin.

Spam Alert – Jan. 20, 2022

Thursday, January 20, many UA students, faculty and staff received a spam email with the subject “[EXTERNAL] select your own University of Alabama alumni Life Insurance cost” This email is an email scam, not a legitimate email from the UA Alumni Association.

Remember to notice the red flags of phishing emails. Look at the from email address of the email, and hover over links before you click to see the web address. Emails outside of UA are also flagged with [EXTERNAL] in the subject line.

If you have any questions, please contact the IT Service Desk at 205-348-5555 or itsd@ua.edu.

phishing email posed as alumni service

Dark Mode Now Available in New myBama

The new myBama is now available in dark mode! After receiving many requests from UA students, OIT developers created a dark mode version of myBama.

The new myBama automatically detects a user’s default device settings and provides a myBama experience consistent with users’ preferred settings. If dark mode is not selected as your default settings but you want to see and use dark mode myBama, log into the new myBama, click your username at the top right, then select User Settings. From there you can select Light, Dark or Default OS settings.

The new myBama will replace the “old” myBama on Sunday, Jan. 23! Learn more about the new myBama and its search features on the OIT website.

Adobe Spark is Now Creative Cloud Express

Adobe Creative Cloud Express is a new mobile app and web platform that has replaced Adobe Spark. Creative Cloud Express is a template-driven platform that makes it easier than ever before to create professional and captivating designs.

Creative Cloud Express combines the powers of Adobe Creative Cloud and Adobe PDF tools into one application, allowing users to create social media posts, promotional posters, videos and more. Creative Cloud Express has a similar look and functionality as Adobe Spark, but with new assets and editing features.

Key Features

  • Access to 20,000 premium Adobe fonts and 175 million royalty-free licensed Adobe Stock images
  • Simple drag-and-drop functions to quickly customize thousands of creative templates
  • Ability to remove backgrounds from photos, trim and merge videos, turn videos into GIFs and convert/export PDFs in a few clicks
  • New templates specifically for resumes, logos, book covers and more
  • Shared Templates and Shared Brands to ensure brand consistency across teams
  • Seamlessly manage social media publishing workflows with ContentCal features, once integrated with Adobe
  • Integration with Creative Cloud Libraries

Check It Out

Creative Cloud Express is available on the web at adobe.com/express, and as a mobile app.

  1. UA faculty, students and staff access Adobe Creative Cloud Express at adobe.com/express
  2. Select “Log in with school account”
  3. Then log in with your myBama email address and password

Learn More

Want to learn more about Creative Cloud Express? Make plans to attend our upcoming webinar January 13 at 1pm.

Service Issue – Dec. 14, 2021

OIT experienced an equipment issue in the Gordon Palmer data center that caused issues with some campus services on Tuesday, Dec. 14 from 10:15am – 12:02pm. The equipment has been removed and services have resumed functionality.

New myBama Launches Jan. 23

The new myBama, which has been available for beta testing since Nov. 15, will replace the current myBama portal on Sunday, Jan. 23. The new myBama has a clean, bright and modern design. It also features several new functional elements that make the site user-friendly and mobile-first.

Search

UA students, faculty and staff can search for links.

Pinned Links

Pinned Links provides the opportunity for each user to customize their own myBama homepage. Pin your most frequently visited links to quickly access the content you need.

Popular Links

Popular Links refreshes regularly with the most frequently used links by others in your role. What’s at the top for students may be different than faculty and staff.

Learn more about each of these features in the promo video below!

myBama Outage

myBama.ua.edu experienced a brief outage Monday, Dec. 6. Root cause of the outage is unknown; however, a database restart resumed service.

The new myBama did not experience an outage. Please transition to use the new myBama at mybama.oitapps.ua.edu.

New Ticketing System

Effective Dec. 15, Jira will replace Kace as OIT’s ticketing system.

Jira Service Management will provide a smoother experience for UA students, faculty and staff, as well as better internal systems for the OIT organization. Jira Service Management will serve as the ticketing solution for OIT, AVS and CIT.

Beginning Dec. 15, users who submit tickets to the IT Service Desk, AVS and CIT will receive new, streamlined communication from Jira. Please note that communications may appear different than previous experiences.