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Dear askIT,
Lately when I search the university home page, it directs me to a Google search engine. I thought Google was a separate Web site. Is this new?

Befuddled

Dear Befuddled,
Yes, the new Google search appliance within the University of Maryland home page has dramatically improved users’ ability to search the Web site. The Google search appliance has been adapted for use by educational institutions and was donated by UM alumnus and Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

Dear askIT,
I am going out of town and need a laptop for work. Is there a place on campus that has equipment like this available?

Happy to Rent

Dear Happy to Rent,
OIT rents a variety of hardware to faculty and staff, including Macintosh and Windows laptops, digital cameras, zip drives, and LCD projectors. This equipment can be picked up at 8:30 a.m. and returned no later than 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday in Room 1400 of the Computer and Space Sciences Building. There is a rental fee for using the equipment and an additional charge if equipment is returned late. Visit www.helpdesk.umd.edu/hardware for more information.

Dear askIT,
Argh! I have to click through numerous pop-up windows whenever I load a Web site secured with a university-signed certificate. Is there any way I can avoid doing this every time?

Tech Curious

Dear Tech Curious,
The pop-up windows you’re encountering merely mean that the University of Maryland has authenticated the site and encrypted it with its own private key. In other words, you can trust the university site you’re visiting to be exactly what it says it is.

There is a way to avoid multiple pop-ups. Simply visit www.cert.umd.edu and install the University of Maryland Certificate Authority by clicking on “Install the University Root Certificate.” This will enable you to set up secure, encrypted SSL sessions to supported University of Maryland services with your own Web browser.

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