All network and computer services around UAB currently accept or require a BlazerID for login.  The goal is to ultimately have your BlazerID serve as the sole identifier that allows you to securely access all of UAB's online information services and portals.

To learn more about or claim a BlazerID, go to http://www.uab.edu/blazerid.

Below is a chart showing the propagation cycle of obtaining a BlazerID.

Windows Mail with IMAP while adding another account.

1. Open Windows mail by selecting the Start button, clicking All Programs, and then selecting Windows mail.
2. Select the Accounts ribbon.
3. Select Email +.
4. Go to Step 2 in the First installation steps.

Windows Mail first installation

1. Open Windows Live Mail
2. You will see the Add your email accountsscreen.
   1. Type your This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it in the Email Address field.
   2. Type your BlazerID Password.
   3. Type your Display name (This name will show up when a recipient receives your email).
   4. Select the checkbox for Manually configure server settings.
3. Select IMAP, and add the server settings below.

   Mail account information you need to add:

   • Incoming Server: mail.ad.uab.edu , Check require a SSL connection, port 993
   • Outgoing server: relay.ad.uab.edu, Check require a SSL connection, port 587
     • Requires Authentication is checked, and make sure you add your BlazerID to the Logon Username.

    

Mozilla Thunderbird first installation

1. Open Mozilla Thunderbird.
2. Add your First and Last name.
3. Select and type in your This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it in the Email Address field.
4. Select and type your Password.
5. Select Next and enter in your Incoming and Outgoing servers, select IMAP for Incoming.
   1. Incoming mail server: Mail.ad.uab.edu. Port 993, SSL: SSL, and NTLM
   2. Outgoing mail server: Relay.ad.uab.edu, Port 587, SSL: StartTTLS, and NTLM

If you use Mozilla Thunderbird, please use the Manual configuration option. We have found that Mozilla uses the wrong settings when it automatically searches for the settings.

How do I clean my mailbox to save space? Or, do I need to ask for more mailbox space?

Since the Central Exchange accounts have a certain email quota for Students and Faculty/Staff, here are the best steps to help save space in your mailbox.

Remember: all of the folders in your mailbox, other than Personal folder files (PST) or Personal Archives, count on your overall space in your mailbox.

1. Delete your Deleted Items. You can right-click the folder and click “Empty Deleted Items” or open the folder and shift+delete your email to permanently delete the email.
2. Delete the Sent Items in your mailbox. You’re sent items like your Deleted items can house a good bit of emails that can be deleted.
3. Use Mailbox Cleanup. This is built into Outlook 2010 only. You can access this by doing the following:
   1. Select File inside your Outlook.
   2. Select Cleanup Tools. You can view the mailbox space before selecting the Cleanup Tools button.
   3. You can choose:
      • Empty Deleted Items.
      • Mailbox Cleanup. Mailbox Cleanup allows you to use advanced tools to cleanup large emails and older items by the options you previously set. It also allows you to delete items that are in conflict with others.
      • Archive. Archive your items to a personal folder file (*.PST).

To help you determine how much space you have and how to increase your space, you can go to http://www.uab.edu/itbilling and request more space for your mailbox.

UABWiFi is available to all students, faculty and staff free of charge. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get access to UABWiFi.

Guest user access is also available.

UAB IT provides Antivirus for use by everyone at UAB including your personal home systems. To download Microsoft Forefront Anti-virus software(Windows) or Sophos Anti-virus (OS X), please click the link below and select from the available antivirus titles.

Please Note: There is a known incompatibility with Sophos and FileVault on Mac OS X 10.5.x. If you are using FileVault please do not install Sophos Antivirus at this time.

Order Now

Note: The software requires the use of a keyboard to enter the boot passphrase. Tablets without physical keyboards are unable to use the software. The PGP software installation needs to be performed by someone with administrative rights on the computer.

Prepare your computer

1. Back up your data. Before downloading or installing the PGP software, be sure to backup your data. You can do so by saving any important files to USB flash drive, CD, network drive, or removable disk. Also, make sure you have copies of all software on your computer.
2. Defragment You may also wish to defragment your computer before installation to speed things up. To do so, click the Start menu. Point to Programs>Accessories>System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter. Click the Analyze button; a report will appear telling you whether or not defragmentation is recommended. If it is, click the Defragment button to begin; if not, close Disk Defragmenter and any other application to begin.
3. Check the disk for disk errors. You can download SpinRite from www.uab.edu/it/software. Create a boot disk or CD image and you can correct disk errors before running the PGP software. This step is optional but it has been found that some PCs have issues encrypting due to disk errors.
4. Check power and network connections. Before installing, be sure your computer is plugged into a wall outlet and has an active network connection.

Download and install PGP software

1. Go to the UAB Software Library, located at www.uab.edu/it/software. Locate the PGP software and click to begin downloading.
2. Close all other programs you are currently running.
3. Navigate to where you saved the software and launch the PGP installer. In the PGP Desktop window, select English.
4. Read the licensing agreement, select I accept the licensing agreement, and click Next.

   

5. Click Nextagain.

   

6. The installer will start copying files into place.

   

7. Click Yes to reboot. When the computer has rebooted, the PGP Setup Assistant should automatically appear.
8. When prompted for domain credentials, enter your BlazerID and password.

   

9. Select "I am a new user" and click Next.

   

10. Click Next.
11. You will be prompted to create credentials for Single Sign-on (SSO); enter the username and password you use to login to your desktop. In many areas of campus, this is also your BlazerID and password with a domain of UAB. This will allow you to enter your login information only once at system boot without seeing the login screen again. Check with your IT support group if you have any issues.
12. The program should automatically begin to encrypt the disk. It is recommended that you do not run any other programs while encryption is taking place. Note: Encryption may take up to 8 hours. If necessary, you can shutdown the computer (Start > Shutdown > Turn off computer) but DO NOT abruptly power off the system.

    

13. When the encryption of the boot drive is complete, the lower icon will become a solid padlock.
14. Reboot the PC. You will be prompted to enter the passphrase /password that was selected as the answer the Windows Single Sign On credentials.

Occasionally, updates for this software will be distributed by the server. When this happens, you will be prompted to install the update and reboot your computer.

UAB IT is currently blocking certain peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing protocols. P2P protocols are cited in copyright infringement cases brought against students and employees at a number of educational institutions by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and other media companies.

Recent trends across the country also show an increasing number of Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaints for distributing copyrighted works over peer-to-peer protocols. Students and Employees should be aware that copyright infringement is not only against UAB policy, but also federal law.

UAB IT uses an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) device to monitor network activity for malicious or unwanted behavior. The IPS also allows for real time blocking of selective P2P protocols which will reduce our risk of receiving DMCA complaints and promote compliance with the UAB Acceptable Use Policy regarding copyright violations.

UAB IT does not block protocols currently being used for legitimate purposes. Streaming content such as YouTube should not be affected by the change. There are several options available to users who wish to participate in legal downloading of media, such as Rhapsody, Spotify, ITunes music store and Amazon mp3.

Users encountering connectivity issues as a result of these changes may contact AskIT for assistance at 205-996-5555.

Please Note: There is a known incompatibility with Sophos and FileVault on Mac OS X 10.5.x. If you are using FileVault please do not install Sophos Antivirus at this time.

Prior to enabling FileVault the following considerations should be observed:

• Backup:
  Although FileVault has a very low failure rate; it is recommended that users create a backup of documents and files prior to enabling FileVault. This backup will provide a means of recovery in the event that anything should happen.
• Time Machine:
  Under normal operation Time Machine will backup information in the user's Home folder while the user is logged in. Once FileVault is enabled however, Time Machine will back up a user's Home folder only after the user logs out and recovery of individual files becomes difficult. It is for this reason that Time Machine's backup potential is reduced and is not recommended for use with FileVault. If an alternate backup solution is required, iBackup provides a freeware solution that allows on-demand and scheduled backup and recovery of individual files while you are logged in. http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/ibackup.html
• Free Space:
  When FileVault is enabled the user's Home folder is copied (not moved) to a protected space and the original is not deleted until the end of the process. This means that prior to enabling FileVault, the free space on the hard drive should be equal to or greater than the size of the Home folder. This free space requirement is also necessary in the event that FileVault is disabled. If you do not have this amount of free space available, then it may be necessary to offload some of the files in your home directory to an external device before beginning the process and then migrate the files over to the protected Home file once the process is complete.

Enabling FileVault

1. Open your System Preferences panel and click Security (circled in red below).
2. On the General tab, select the items below to ensure maximum security.
3. On the Firewall tab, select "Allow only essential services" to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your computer remotely.
4. On the FileVault tab, click the button labeled "Set Master Password".
5. On this screen you will set a Master Password that can unlock FileVault protected accounts. This is a feature that is designed to provide recovery for accounts. Set this password as something you won't forget, but ensure that it is different from your user account password. Do not lose or forget this password;  this password cannot be recovered or reset once it is set.
6. You will now be prompted for the password affiliated with your current user account.
7. After your password is accepted you will be prompted to confirm that you want to turn on FileVault. On this screen, be sure to check the option to "Use secure erase". Once you click "Turn On FileVault" the computer will not be accessible for 1-2 hours depending on hardware.