Learning Abroad: Troubleshooting

Clearing your cache can significantly improve the speed and performance of your browser and ensures that anyone who uses the same computer and browser after you (particularly on public computers) will not see your private information.

Firewalls have sometimes created problems when users have tried to access UofU Electronic Resources. If you are on campus (outside of the libraries) or are accessing Electronic Resources from within a non-UofU network and your computer is behind a firewall, your network administrator will have to configure the firewall before you will be able to access Marriott Library electronic resources.

Have you authenticated using your uNID and you are still being asked for a username and password? Try clearing your computer's Cache and Cookies. 

About Browser Cookies

Websites send small text files known as cookies to your web browser in order to store information about your connection to their server, including authentication information, details about your online session, and any preferences you may have saved. Cookies are particularly useful when you want a website to auto-sign you into a web service, but like the cache, they could be used to compromise your privacy if someone gained access to your computer. Some people choose to delete their cookies periodically (though you should keep in mind that any authenticated sites you use will not remember you the next time you return).

About the Browser Cache

In order to speed up web browsing, browsers are designed to download web pages and store them on your computer in an area called the cache (pronounced cash). When you visit the same page for a second time, the browser speeds up the display time by loading the pages locally from the cache instead of downloading everything again. This sometimes results in less than current versions of web pages being displayed, along with problems on registration and authentication pages.

Over time, this process may actually begin to slow down your browser as large amounts of data are saved to your hard drive. A cache does not empty itself and anyone who gains access to your computer can tell from these files what websites you have visited. To make matters worse, this caching is not limited to pages, but can also include login IDs, passwords, banking information, and other sensitive information.

Clearing your cache can significantly improve the speed and performance of your browser and ensures that anyone who uses the same computer and browser after you (particularly on public computers) will not see your private information. It's a good habit to clear your cache from time to time.

How to Clear the Browser Cache and Delete Cookies