Newsletter Tech Tips

Tech Tip Tuesday (August 5, 2025)

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It's that time again...

This school year's first tech tip has helpful reminders about where and how to get help with district technology. Take a minute and review some common questions with our district technology resources.

~~ Get some help! ~~

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For ANY tech request, question, or problem, the best place to start is by contacting the District IT Helpdesk. There are 3 ways to submit an IT request:

Method #1 (PREFERRED): Log into the ULUSD IT Helpdesk with your ULUSD Google account. To access the website, click HERE. Click the "Login" button, and choose the Google button to sign in with your ULUSD Google account. Once signed in, click "New Support Ticket". You can also view your previously submitted tickets, and review solutions to common problems.

Method #2: Download the iOS or Android ULUSD IT Helpdesk app for your mobile phone

Method #3: To submit a new IT request via email, simply send an email to support@ulusd.org. Remember to include the problem description and anything else needed to resolve the issue!

Want more?



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Blaze King

Director of Information and Instructional Technology

Email: bking@ulusd.org
Website: ulusd.org
Location: 675 Clover Valley Road, Upper Lake, CA, USA
Phone: 707-275-9139

Tech Tip Tuesday (October 7, 2025)

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October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month


In the never-ending battle against cyber villains, you are on the front lines!


 

Only the most-experienced and well-equipped can stand up against AI deepfakes, ransomware and other threats lurking behind every corner of cyberspace. 

 

 

This month, we will be sharing tips, training, and simulated hacker attacks to help keep our defenses up. Be on the lookout for suspicious emails and report them immediately!

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Watch out for the CYBERPUNKS!

 

Social engineering is one of the most common ways cyber villains break into computer networks to cause havoc and destruction.

 


They rely on being able to convince users like you to click a link or send them your passwords and will try all sorts of tricks to do it!

 


That’s why for the first step of your cybersecurity quest this October, we’re sharing an interactive training course all about spotting the red flags of social engineering.

 

 

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to bking@ulusd.org.

 


Thanks, and look for more cybersecurity content all this month!

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Blaze King

Director of Information Technology

Email: bking@ulusd.org
Website: ulusd.org
Location: 750 Old Lucerne Road, Upper Lake, CA, USA
Phone: 707-275-9139

Tech Tip Tuesday (October 7, 202)

Screenshot 2025-10-06 082403.png

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month


In the never-ending battle against cyber villains, you are on the front lines!


 

Only the most-experienced and well-equipped can stand up against AI deepfakes, ransomware and other threats lurking behind every corner of cyberspace. 

 

 

This month, we will be sharing tips, training, and simulated hacker attacks to help keep our defenses up. Be on the lookout for suspicious emails and report them immediately!

 Screenshot 2025-10-06 093014.png


CYBERPUNKS-Card_small.jpg

Watch out for the CYBERPUNKS!

 

Social engineering is one of the most common ways cyber villains break into computer networks to cause havoc and destruction.

 


They rely on being able to convince users like you to click a link or send them your passwords and will try all sorts of tricks to do it!

 


That’s why for the first step of your cybersecurity quest this October, we’re sharing an interactive training course all about spotting the red flags of social engineering.

 

 

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to bking@ulusd.org.

 


Thanks, and look for more cybersecurity content all this month!

thumb-a49d786c3702b02af052f7f4feecf8e2.png

Blaze King

Director of Information Technology

Email: bking@ulusd.org
Website: ulusd.org
Location: 750 Old Lucerne Road, Upper Lake, CA, USA
Phone: 707-275-9139

Tech Tip Tuesday (October 14, 2025)

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October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month


Passwords? That's so last year. No, let's try a passphrase.


 

A strong password doesn’t have to be hard to remember — it just needs to be long and unique. Combine a few random words to create something easy to recall but nearly impossible to guess, like:


--> cactus-rainbow-ocean 

--> library-taco-galaxy

 

Avoid personal info, and don’t reuse passwords across accounts.

 

 

Tip: The longer the phrase, the stronger the protection.

Check out Google's Password Tips

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END OF THE PASSWORD

 

A passkey is a secure, passwordless way to sign in to Google.

 


Instead of typing a password, you use something you already have — like your phone, fingerprint, or device PIN — to prove it’s really you.


Passkeys protect against phishing and make sign-ins faster.
You can set one up in your Google Account settings:

 

Create a Passkey for Google

 

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Blaze King

Director of Information Technology

Email: bking@ulusd.org
Website: ulusd.org
Location: 750 Old Lucerne Road, Upper Lake, CA, USA
Phone: 707-275-9139

Tech Tip Tuesday (October 21, 2025)

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October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month


AI Can Fake It. You Don’t Have To Fall For It!


What’s Happening

--> AI tools can now create deepfakes. These are fake videos, images, and audio that look and sound real.


--> Fakes are being used in scams and misinformation, from fake “CEO voice” calls to forged news clips. They’re convincing, fast to make, and can be used to manipulate trust.


--> If something feels off - a strange tone, mismatched lighting, or odd lip-sync - pause before reacting or sharing.

 

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Meet Dr. Deepfake — Master of Digital Deception

From the dark corners of the internet comes Dr. Deepfake, a cyber trickster who uses artificial intelligence to create fake videos, photos, and voices that look and sound real. Her tools can imitate anyone! Teachers, principals, celebrities, CEOs... no one is safe! She tricks people into believing what isn’t true.

Dr. Deepfake’s goal? To steal trust. She can make a video of someone saying things they never said or create a fake voicemail asking you to send money, reset a password, or share confidential information.

 

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How to Outsmart Dr. Deepfake

  • 👀 Look closely — watch for unnatural blinking, lip-sync errors, or lighting that doesn’t match.


  • 🎧 Listen carefully — AI-generated voices can sound flat, robotic, or “off” in emotion.


  • ⚠️ Pause before you believe — if a video or message feels strange, confirm it through official channels before acting.


  • 🧠 Trust your instincts — if it seems too shocking or urgent, it’s worth double-checking.

 

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Blaze King

Director of Information Technology

Email: bking@ulusd.org
Website: ulusd.org
Location: 750 Old Lucerne Road, Upper Lake, CA, USA
Phone: 707-275-9139

Tech Tip Tuesday (October 28, 2025)

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October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month


The Final Boss: Social Engineering

(The art of manipulating or deceiving you into taking an action or divulging sensitive information.)

Watch out for these three types:


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The Doppelgänger and the Art of Social Engineering

Meet The Doppelgänger! This is a cyber trickster who doesn’t hack computers. He hacks people. Through emails, texts, phone calls, or even face-to-face conversations, social engineers use trust, fear, and urgency to trick you into giving up passwords, clicking links, or letting them in the door.

They might impersonate a coworker, a vendor, or even IT support — anything to make you act fast and skip thinking.

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How to Outsmart the Doppelgänger

  • 🛑 Stop, Look, Think before responding to any unexpected message or visitor.

  • 📞 Verify requests using a known contact method — don’t reply directly to suspicious emails.

  • 🔒 Never share passwords or MFA codes. IT will never ask for them.

  • 🚷 Report anything suspicious to IT or your site tech team immediately.

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Blaze King

Director of Information Technology

Email: bking@ulusd.org
Website: ulusd.org
Location: 750 Old Lucerne Road, Upper Lake, CA, USA
Phone: 707-275-9139

Tech Tip Tuesday (March 3, 2026)

🛡️ Safety Beyond the Inbox! 🛡️

Yes, we've had phishing. But what about second phishing?

While we’re all getting better at spotting "phishy" emails, scammers have moved into the physical world. From QR codes to "lost" USB drives, they are finding new ways to bypass our digital filters.

Smishing:
That urgent text about a "missed delivery" or a "payroll issue" is often a scam designed to steal your passwords on your mobile device -- or your BANK ACCOUNT INFO!

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Quishing (QR code Phishing): 
Scammers place fake QR code stickers over real ones on posters, parking meters, or even menus to lead you to fake login pages.
You wouldn't click on a phishing link in an email, right? So why "click" on one in real life?

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The "Lost" USB:
A "random" thumb drive left in the breakroom or parking lot isn't a lucky find—it’s a common way to sneak malware onto a school network.

 

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Resourceful Hacker -- Master of Physical Deception 🎭

The Resourceful Hacker doesn't need to hack your firewall; they just need to hack your curiosity. By leaving a "lost" USB drive in the parking lot or a helpful-looking QR code sticker on a breakroom table, they wait for you to take the bait.

They rely on the fact that teachers and staff are naturally helpful. Once you plug in that mystery drive to "find the owner" or scan that code to "see the staff discount," The Mimic bypasses district security and gains instant access to sensitive student or staff data.

Their Goal: To catch you off guard when you are away from your computer and feeling helpful, curious, or in a hurry.

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Context is Everything

Ask yourself: Does it make sense for this to be a QR code?

 

 

* The Red Flag * 

A random flyer on a telephone pole or a "Free Gift Card" sticker on a breakroom table is almost certainly a trap.

 

The Rule:

Only scan codes from trusted, official sources (like the back of your staff ID or a permanent school sign).

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Blaze King

Director of Information Technology

Email: bking@ulusd.org
Website: ulusd.org
Location: 750 Old Lucerne Road, Upper Lake, CA, USA
Phone: 707-275-9139