Elon Introduces Duo Mobile for Moodle Safety

Multi-factor authentication was introduced to Elon students on April 16th in order to ensure account safety and password authenticity within Moodle. The duo mobile app is now being used by all students in order to log into their Moodle accounts and access their schoolwork. 

The process of the multi-factor authentication is quite simple. When a student logs into Moodle now they must type in their username and password and afterwards another page pops open which allows them to “send a push” notification to another device and double check the login. 

This process ensures that the person signing in is the person who owns the account and there could be no hackers or people attempting to take over. Multiple emails were sent out about the process before yet no students really understood what it meant or what all this would entail. 

Students were encouraged to pre-enroll in multi-factor authentication yet many students did not do this due to the fact that nobody in classes spoke about it and it was not explained to them. An email sent out by the multi-factor authentication team to students reads: 

When you go to one of these sites, you’ll be prompted to login with your Elon username and password as usual. Instead of taking you to the site, you’ll be taken to a screen that will ask you to complete your enrollment before proceeding. To complete enrollment, you will need the following: Mobile device (highly recommended) or landline phone. And University ID (7-digit number).

While The Edge agrees that online privacy is important, we can’t help but question some of the details about this new program—and we’re not alone. Graphic from pixabay.com.

The app and overall multi-factor authenticity was instilled in order to protect students' Moodle accounts. Although, the app has received a multitude of criticism from students throughout the school. Many students were confused about the app and what it was, and were also annoyed by it. 

“I know it’s supposed to be helpful and keep our accounts safe,” says an Elon student who wishes to remain anonymous. “Yet, it makes us more reliant on our phones because we have to have them on us 24/7 now and makes logging into Moodle so much more of a process.”

Although this is the opinion of just one Elon student, there has been talk of students complaining about the app and how it makes students rely more on their phones. The issue with the app that most students have is that it requires them to have their phones at all times just so they can log into their accounts. Even if students log into Moodle on their phones they must also accept the push notification on the app.

There is also confusion about why this system applies to Moodle as opposed to accounts with more personal information such as OnTrack which has access to billing information and even tax forms for students employed on campus. “ I also just don’t think it’s necessary as it’s a Moodle account and does not hold intense information we need to protect,” adds the same anonymous student.

The school had good intentions for installing the multi-factor authentication into Elon students Moodle accounts, yet many students do not feel that the benefits of the app are worth the time or necessary for their Moodle accounts.