December Technology Workshops:
Winter Academy
Ask The Expert: Excel
Wednesday, December 10
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Leyburn 301
Tom Marcais
Box AI & Box Hubs: Unlock Answers Not Just Keywords
Wednesday, December 10
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Leyburn 109
Zach Nix
Phishing Simulation Emails: Why They Matter, Your Role & How AI is Changing the Game
Thursday, December 11
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Leyburn 128
ITS
Register for Winter Academy Sessions
Get Outside With GAIA GPS
If James Dick, Director of Outdoor Education and Recreation, had to pick just one outdoor app, it would be Gaia GPS.
“I like the built-in base map; it’s great for simple navigation. It works in national parks, national forests, and state parks, and if you need help finding your way, it’s usually the most reliable option. Every now and then, I’ll record my route, which gives me a place to look back and see what hikes or bike rides we’ve done and which ones I might want to do again.”
The screenshot above highlights a few of the routes James has recorded in and around Douthat State Park. He uses the Premium version and says it’s “totally worth the money!”
Free vs. Premium
- Use Free if you just want basic navigation, track recording, and online maps.
- Upgrade to Premium if you need offline maps or want to use advanced map layers.
Gaia GPS offers a 14-day free trial of the Premium plan, and after that, it’s $3.99 per month.
Learn More About GAIA GPS
Take Your Pick: 2 Peak-Identifying Apps
House Mountain is one of the easiest peaks to recognize from Lexington, but did you know you can identify far more than that? With apps like PeakVisor and PeakFinder, you can quickly discover the names of every mountain in view, including Cole Mountain and Apple Orchard Mountain. These tools turn any scenic overlook into an opportunity to learn more about the landscape around us.
PeakVisor
Monica Burke in University Development shared the screenshot above of PeakVisor in use and notes:
“It’s a great app for aiming at an outdoor landmark and getting identifying information. It’s amazing!”
PeakVisor uses advanced 3D terrain models to display peak names, elevations, and detailed profiles. With cell service, the free version lets you identify one location per day, and the Pro trial unlocks offline access and unlimited use. Just point your phone toward the landscape and PeakVisor labels mountains instantly. It’s especially helpful for checking sunrise and sunset positions at unfamiliar locations or simply satisfying your curiosity on a scenic drive.
Cost: Free
Pro: $39.99/year (includes 1-week free trial)
Pro Lifetime: $159.00 (gift option available)
Learn More About PeakVisor
PeakFinder
Chris Wise, W&L retired Environmental Management Coordinator, recommends PeakFinder.
“PeakFinder is a great way to learn the names of mountains and also helps with orientation and navigation.”
PeakFinder provides a clean, panoramic line-drawing view of the horizon and labels more than a million peaks worldwide. It works fully offline and offers an intuitive interface that’s perfect for quick identification or backcountry navigation.
Cost: $4.99 (one-time purchase)
Learn More About PeakFinder
Four Calling Birds? Merlin Bird ID Can Help!
For those who haven’t had the chance to spend time on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Paul Cabe’s Ornithology course, we can still benefit from his favorite outdoor app recommendation. Paul Cabe, Head of the Biology Department and Professor of Biology, points to Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as a must-have tool for anyone curious about the birds around them.
“Amazing technology allows nearly anyone to start to identify and learn bird calls and songs.”
Cost: Free
Learn More about Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Merlin Bird ID YouTube Demo from the Cornell Lab
Best Friends Don’t Let You Stay Inside – Meet WoofTrax
“WoofTrax is an app to track walks you take with your dog. It also donates money to your chosen animal shelter.”
Thanks to Dorian McIntush, Open Scholarship and Data Resident Librarian, for this outdoor app recommendation. WoofTrax turns your everyday dog walks into micro-donations for animal charities. Just download the free app, create an account, choose a local shelter or rescue, and your outdoor miles help generate real funding support. With millions of walks logged nationwide and donations benefiting thousands of organizations, WoofTrax is an easy way to “make your walk go further” while doing something you and your dog already enjoy.
Learn More about WoofTrax
Honorable Mention Outdoor Apps
Some of our Outdoor Enthusiasts couldn’t resist naming more than one favorite app. Here are the honorable mentions – great tools for birding, exploring, identifying plants and wildlife, or navigating the backcountry.
Birds Near Me
Quickly identifies birds based on your location.
Mountain Project
A must-have resource for rock climbers, with routes, maps, and community notes.
iNaturalist (Account required)
Upload photos to identify plants, animals, fungi, and insects with help from AI and a global community.
Seek by iNaturalist (No account required)
A privacy-friendly version of iNaturalist that identifies species instantly without logging in.
iNaturalist vs Seek by iNaturalist Comparison Chart
My USNG
A simple tool for using the United States National Grid (USNG) for navigation and location sharing.
Nudge macOS Updates are Always in Season
Starting Wednesday, December 3, 2025, ITS began pushing update notifications via Nudge, the application designed to ensure all university-owned Mac computers stay up-to-date and compliant with essential software policies. Additionally, Mac computers with Google Chrome installed will automatically receive a critical browser security update upon restart.
Learn More about macOS Nudge Updates
ITS Recommends Shutting Down Computers and Printers Over Break
As part of ongoing construction and maintenance at W&L, a planned campus-wide power outage will occur over winter break. ITS recommends that all campus computers and Bizhub printers be shut down prior to leaving for break. Powering down your equipment can help prevent data loss, protect devices from power surges when electricity is restored, and ensure that your computer and printer start up smoothly when you return from winter break.
Apple Tip of the Month: Shut Down
- Click the Apple menu .
- Choose Shut Down…
- Select Reopen windows when logging back in only if needed (recommended: leave unchecked for a clean start).
- Click Shut Down.
PC Tip of the Month: Shut Down
- Click the Start menu (Windows logo).
- Select Power.
- Choose Shut down.
- Close open apps beforehand for a clean start next time.
General Guidance: Security & Agentic AI Browsers
New agentic AI browsers, such as Comet by Perplexity and Atlas by ChatGPT, are bringing powerful “AI assistants” to everyday browsing. Their ability to work across multiple tabs, synthesize research, and automate tasks is exciting, but it also introduces new security considerations.
To help everyone use these tools safely, Dean Tallman, our Chief Information Security Officer, offers the following guidance:
1. Don’t Import Passwords Automatically
When setting up an AI-enabled browser, avoid accepting the default option to import passwords from another browser. Keeping your credentials out of AI-driven environments reduces the risk of unintended access or misuse.
2. Use Logged-Out Mode Whenever Possible
Keep AI tools in logged-out mode by default. Only sign in manually when absolutely necessary, and when you do, use least-privilege accounts to limit exposure.
3. Separate Your Browsing Profiles
Run AI agents in a dedicated browser profile with no connection to your personal or work accounts. For especially sensitive activities, use a different browser altogether to fully isolate AI activity from private data.
4. Avoid Sensitive Tasks in AI Browsers
Do not use agentic AI for activities involving personal or financial information, such as banking, medical portals, or online purchases. Keep those actions in your normal, non-AI browser.
5. Remember: Don’t Assume That AI will Detect Fraud
AI agents may not recognize suspicious behavior, phishing, or scams. They simply carry out instructions. Treat them as automation tools, not as a layer of security.
ITS Newsletter Archives
Past newsletters and other ITS news can be found at https://itsnews.wlu.edu
