NetBadge: Frequently Asked Questions

[Jul 17, 2008 14:02] The feature in Xpressions that notifies a user by email when they receive a voice mail is currently not working. Siemens is aware of the problem and is working on it. This does not affect any other aspect of Xpressions.

Following is a list of common questions and answers about NetBadge - what it is and how it works.
What is a NetBadge?
A NetBadge is an electronic identification badge that is issued to your web browser when you log into the NetBadge service. A large number of protected web sites on the U.Va. network require a NetBadge for access. Whenever you visit one of these web sites, your browser automatically presents your NetBadge to identify you to the web site.
How do I get a NetBadge?
If you visit a protected web site and your browser does not have a NetBadge yet, then your browser is automatically sent to the NetBadge login page, where you log in. Your browser receives a NetBadge, returns to the protected web site, and presents the NetBadge to identify you.

You can also log into NetBadge directly via the login page at https://netbadge.virginia.edu/. Note that if your browser already has a NetBadge loaded, you will not see the login page; instead you will see information about your existing NetBadge, such as how much longer it is valid.
How long is my NetBadge valid?
If you log in from the U.Va. network (or use U.Va. Anywhere), then your NetBadge is valid for nine hours. If you log in from outside the U.Va. network, then your NetBadge lasts one hour. For more details, see How NetBadge Works.
What happens if I try to access a protected site after my NetBadge expires?
That's not a problem. If your NetBadge has expired, then your browser is automatically redirected to the login page, where you can log in again to obtain a new NetBadge.
How can I disable my NetBadge?
The best way is to exit your browser completely. Your browser saves your NetBadge in memory and automatically presents it whenever necessary. Completely exiting your browser destroys the NetBadge. To find out more about logging out of NetBadge, including what to do if for some reason you are unable to exit your browser completely, visit our How to Log Out page.
Why would I ever want to disable my NetBadge?
If you have a browser open with your NetBadge loaded, and you leave your computer unattended, anyone else can simply sit down at your computer and use your browser to view personal information about you or perform electronic transactions using your identity!
What is a personal certificate?
A personal certificate is an electronic packet of information that you can create on your computer, and use to identify yourself to sites on the Web, including NetBadge. To find out more about certificates, and how to get one, visit our Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) site.
How does NetBadge work "under the hood"?
The NetBadge service uses Pubcookie software. A NetBadge is a collection of HTTP "cookies" issued to your browser, which your browser saves in memory and automatically presents to web sites when necessary. To learn more about the inner workings of the service, visit our page on How NetBadge Works.
I use Internet Explorer with Content Advisor enabled, and NetBadge doesn't work. How can I fix it?
Content Advisor interferes with the fundamental operating mechanism of NetBadge. In order to make NetBadge work, you will need to disable Content Advisor.
Troubleshooting: I changed the way my browser handles cookies, and now NetBadge doesn't work. What happened?
Netbadge authentication uses your browser as a communication conduit. When you first visit a Web application (like Web Mail), the application gives your browser a "granting request" cookie and then redirects you to NetBadge for login. Your browser is supposed to present the granting request cookie to NetBadge, so that NetBadge knows where you came from and where to send you back. But if you have configured your browser to disable cookies completely, NetBadge has no way of knowing what application sent you, or how to get you back to it. If you configure your browser to present a cookie only to the same site that issued it, or to block cookies that come from U.Va., that also breaks NetBadge. The solution is to restore your browser's cookie-handling configuration back to its default state.

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