We can help you protect your computer or mobile device from theft. Learn more about theft deterrents.
While on campusback to top
If you are a new student, check out Getting Started: Students to find out how to get up and running with IT at MIT.
Manage your accounts
- Reset your Kerberos password.
- Current MIT students may request a change to their Kerberos username and email address.
- Register at least one backup device for use with Duo in case something happens to your primary device. YubiKeys are hardware authentication tokens that don’t require WiFi or cellular service and make excellent backup authentication devices. Students can request a free YubiKey from IS&T.
Certificates for accessing the network
Certificates let you log on safely to MITnet and identify you to MIT applications. Certificates need to be renewed every year by the end of July. This Knowledge Base (KB) article will walk you through installing MIT certificates.
Connect to MITnet
You can connect wirelessly or plug in to an Ethernet port. Either way, just click on your web browser and follow the on-screen prompts to register your device. If you connect wirelessly, just log in to MIT SECURE with your Kerberos username and password.
You can login to your MIT email account using your Kerberos credentials through a browser or an email app. IS&T recommends Microsoft Outlook, which is part of the free Microsoft Office bundle available to all MIT students.
- Undergraduate students: Access your email online at outlook.office.com. The KB has instructions for configuring Outlook to access your Microsoft 365 email account.
- Graduate students: Access your email online at owa.mit.edu. The KB has instructions for configuring Outlook to access your Exchange email account.
You can also get a jump start on your post-graduation MIT email from the Alumni Association by registering for your Infinite Connection account.
Note: Grad students may also be assigned a departmental email address, e.g., @sloan.mit.edu, @csail.mit.edu. This account is separate from your @mit.edu account. Contact your department for more information.
Canvas and WebSIS
Canvas is MIT’s online cloud-based Learning Management System (LMS) that brings instructors, students, and course content together in online course sites.
WebSIS is MIT's online student information system. Use WebSIS to view your course schedule, pre-register for classes, view your grades, and update your personal information. When you use WebSIS, you need to identify yourself with your MIT certificates.
Browse available software and services
You have access to an array of apps and cloud-based services at no additional cost during your time as an MIT student. Using your Kerberos account and an MIT certificate, you can download or access anything that’s marked for use by students on the IS&T software grid.
Get the MIT Atlas mobile app
Download and install the MIT Atlas mobile app (available for iOS and Android). The Pass feature lets you report symptoms if you become ill, so you may access the Institute’s on-campus PCR testing program.
Sign up right now for the MIT Alert and program in the phone number for the Campus Police (617-253-1212).
Printing
MIT provides centrally-managed “Pharos” printers around campus, including color and black-and-white printers in all MIT dorms. To print, you send your document to a general print queue and release the job at any Pharos printer touch-free. Students can print up to 3,000 pages a year for no charge.
Install the Pharos printing client to print from your computer to a Pharos printer on campus, or use the Athena Print Center (MobilePrint) to upload a document from your computer or mobile device.
Protect your account, devices, and data
IS&T strongly recommends that you take the following precautions in order to protect your Kerberos account, devices, and information. All of the software and services referenced below are licensed by the Institute for your use at no extra cost.
- Implement the tasks for low risk data on MIT's Information Protection website, infoprotect.mit.edu.
- Learn how to recognize phishing attempts. Report phishy emails to IS&T’s Security Team by forwarding them as attachments to phishing@mit.edu.
- Use a password manager to generate and manage strong, unique passwords. IS&T offers LastPass Enterprise.
- Enable automatic updates of your devices’ operating systems and applications.
- Download and install CrowdStrike and Sophos security software to protect your computer.
- Implement whole disk encryption on your computer. For your mobile devices, enabling encryption is as easy as setting a password.
- Run full-system backups of your computer regularly. IS&T offers Crashplan, a cloud-based backup solution.
If anyone at MIT is harassing you over the internet, report it to stopit@mit.edu. The issue will be handled confidentially to ensure the unwanted behavior is stopped. Learn more about MIT Stopit.
If you feel directly threatened or unsafe, contact the Campus Police.
Get IT help 24/7
If you have questions about anything IT-related at MIT, you can contact IS&T’s Service Desk for help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The IS&T Knowledge Base has how-tos and answers to thousands of FAQs about IT at MIT.
Also be sure to follow IS&T on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat to get important news and updates about IT services at MIT.
Leaving MITback to top
"Offboarding" is the process of transitioning and closing out your digital presence at MIT. It is important that you download, move, or transfer ownership of the files and data associated with your MIT accounts before they are deactivated.
Timeline
Take the following steps before graduation to ensure that your data isn't lost:
- Download or transfer data from your MIT accounts such as email, cloud storage services (Dropbox, Google Workspaces (formerly G Suite), OneDrive), Adobe, LastPass, and Athena.
- Transfer ownership of any websites, Moira and Mailman mailing lists, or AFS lockers that you administer for any MIT groups or organizations to students remaining at MIT.
- Secure personal licenses for software or services that you will no longer have access to under the Institute’s enterprise agreements but wish to continue using.
Day after graduation:
The day after you graduate, your MIT account status will be changed from student to affiliate. As an Institute affiliate, you will no longer be covered by MIT’s licenses to:
- Download software from the IS&T software grid licensed for student use
- Use previously installed software licensed for MIT student use
- Access student-only websites and web services
January following graduation:
Your MIT Kerberos account will be deactivated. Be sure to back up any data that you want to keep, including old emails, on your personal computers.
Your status will change from affiliate to deleted. At that point, you will lose access to all Touchstone-authenticated Institute services and related data, including:
- MIT email
- MIT-licensed cloud-based services, such as CrashPlan, Dropbox for Business, LastPass Enterprise, Zoom, Slack Enterprise Grid, and MIT GitHub
- Athena and AFS lockers
Stay connected
- Get access to an exclusive array of resources and discounts after you graduate through the MIT Alumni Association.
- Register for your Infinite Connection account.
- Sign up for an MIT alumni email account. Note: Your current @mit.edu account will stop working approximately 6 months after graduation.
Uninstall software
If you installed any software from MIT during your time here, make sure you uninstall it if the license requires it. MATLAB, for example, is only available for your use while you're currently enrolled at MIT.
Learn more
There are several other services on campus that will be impacted when you graduate. Find out what you need to do to disengage from additional MIT resources.
Contact the IS&T Service Desk with questions or for help with preparing for the transition process.