NetBadge at UVa
Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) about NetBadge
Frequently-Asked Questions about the NetBadge Service
Following is a list of common questions about NetBadge, including what it is and how it works:
About NetBadge
- What’s a NetBadge, and how do I get one?
- How long is my NetBadge valid?
- What happens if I try to access a protected site after my NetBadge expires?
Logging Into NetBadge
Troubleshooting NetBadge
- I keep getting thrown back to the NetBadge status page instead of the application I was trying to access, in an endless loop. Why is this happening?
- NetBadge isn’t working for me. What’s the problem?
- How do I disable my NetBadge and log out securely?
For Advanced Users
Answers to Frequently-Asked Questions about NetBadge
About the NetBadge Service
- What’s a NetBadge, and how do I get one?
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A NetBadge is an electronic identification “badge” that is issued to your Web browser when you log into UVa’s NetBadge service. Many resources and websites at UVa are protected by NetBadge, so whenever you visit one of these websites, your browser automatically presents your NetBadge to identify you to the website.
If you visit a protected website and your browser does not have a NetBadge yet, you are automatically redirected to the NetBadge login page. After you log in, your browser receives a NetBadge, and returns you to the protected website you were originally attempting to access, presenting your NetBadge to identify you.
You are therefore sent to NetBadge anytime you try to access a protected UVa system or resource. You can also log into NetBadge directly via the login page at https://netbadge.virginia.edu.
- How long is my NetBadge valid?
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If you log in from inside the UVa network (if you are on Grounds or using the UVa Anywhere VPN), then your NetBadge is valid for 9 hours. If you log in from outside the UVa network, then your NetBadge lasts 1 hour.
Note: If you have already logged into NetBadge recently and your NetBadge session is still active, if you visit https://netbadge.virginia.edu again, you will see information about the status of your existing NetBadge session, such as how much longer it is valid. 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.
Logging Into NetBadge
- How do I log into NetBadge? What is the difference between the two login options?
- You may log into NetBadge using either the personal digital certificate login option (a faster, more secure method), or by typing in your UVa computing ID and password.
- How do I change my NetBadge password?
- NetBadge is not a UVa computing account in itself; therefore it does not have its own password. Instead, it accepts your UVa computing ID and a password from any of your other computing accounts on a compatible system. So, to change the password you use for NetBadge, change the password for (at least one of) your ITS computing accounts.
- What is the personal digital certificate login option?
- A digital certificate is like an ID card you can use to identify yourself to websites, including NetBadge. Logging into NetBadge with the digital certificate option is more secure than logging in with your UVa computing ID and password because it reduces the chances you fall for a phishing scam—a false website designed by criminals to look like NetBadge but that really steals your login credentials. To find out more about digital certificates, and how to get one, see Personal Digital Certificates.
Troubleshooting NetBadge Problems
- I keep getting thrown back to the NetBadge status page instead of the application I was trying to access, in an endless loop. Why is this happening?
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There are a couple possible reasons. First, if you have configured your Web browser to disable cookies, NetBadge has no way of knowing what website you were attempting to access that sent you to NetBadge, or how to get you back to it once you’ve logged in and gotten your NetBadge. Or, if you configured your browser to present a cookie only to the same site that issued it, or to block cookies that come from UVa, that also breaks NetBadge. The solution is to restore your browser’s cookie-handling configuration back to its default state.
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Another possibility is that you accidentally messed up your initial login attempt (e.g., you mistyped your password or attempted to use an expired digital certificate to log in). If so, NetBadge may “forget” the destination you were initially trying to reach, so once you finally do log in successfully, it no longer knows where to send you, so it just sends you to the Status page, with information about how much longer your NetBadge session is valid.
To fix this, simply re-type the URL of your actual intended destination, or go back and follow the original link you used. You should be now be able to successfully connect to the NetBadge-protected UVa system or resource.
- NetBadge isn’t working for me. What's the problem?
- When you’re troubleshooting a NetBadge problem, remember these common fixes:
- Changing the way your browser handles cookies: If you have configured your browser to disable cookies, NetBadge has no way of knowing what website you were attempting to access that sent you to NetBadge, or how to get you back to it once you’ve logged in and gotten your NetBadge. If you configure your browser to present a cookie only to the same site that issued it, or to block cookies that come from UVa, that also breaks NetBadge. The solution is to restore your browser’s cookie-handling configuration back to its default state.
- Content Advisor in Internet Explorer: Content Advisor in some versions of the Internet Explorer Web browser interferes with the fundamental operating mechanism of NetBadge. In order to make NetBadge work, you will need to disable Content Advisor.
- Enabling Javascript: Javascript must be enabled for NetBadge to work properly. If you have Javascript disabled, you are likely not getting to websites other than NetBadge, either.
- How do I disable my NetBadge and log out securely?
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Completely logging out of NetBadge is important: if you have a Web 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!
The best way is to exit your Web 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, see How to Log Out.
For Web Developers
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- 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 and view our NetBadge info for Web developers.
- What is Enhanced NetBadge?
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“Enhanced” NetBadge is a higher-security edition of NetBadge that looks slightly different from the “original” NetBadge and offers increased protection of sensitive personal data. Learn more about Enhanced NetBadge. See also information for University Web developers who wish to implement NetBadge or Enhanced NetBadge to protect their systems or resources.
Page Updated: 2011-12-02
