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Public vs Private Devices

What is the difference between public and private and how does it change the usage of the system?

• Public Device: The login session timeout will automatically be set to two (2) minutes.  After two minutes of inactivity (no menu selections or clicks on the screen items), the system will automatically log the user out and display a login prompt.
• Private Device: The login session timeout will automatically be set to twenty (20) minutes.  After twenty minutes of inactivity (no menu selections or clicks on the screen items), the system will automatically log the user out and display a login prompt.

How can I chose?

After initial login, the system will display a banner message at the top of the screen asking if the device (computer, tablet, phone, etc.) being used is private.

• If the box is checked a window will display with information about marking that device and web browser as private.  If agreed to, the system will store a cookie in that web browser for the logged in user account that tells the system this is a private device and browser for all future sessions.  If the cookies are cleared in that browser, the system will prompt again on next login.
• If the banner is ignore and the box is left unchecked, the banner will disappear after approximately 10 seconds and the device and browser will be automatically considered public.  The public option should be used when the device is shared with other users like a break room computer, library computer, or any other device that is not used only by you.

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Why are there options available?

The public device option and shortened session timeout was added to help users protect PHI (Protected Health Information) that is available in this portal system.  If a public device is used, and the user leaves the system logged into their account and does not close the web browser, that PHI could be exposed to the next person using that device.  The public timeout option assists the user in that situation and will log them out in that shorter time frame while still allowing the system to be functional.