SYST10049/SYST10199 Setup Tasks: Protect Assignments with cPanel

You will need to password-protect your assignments so that others can't copy them (remember, if someone copies your work and gets caught with an academic integrity breach, you will also be penalized for making your work available to them).

1. Log into cPanel (if not already logged in): visit the appropriate URL based on where you are:
   • If you're on any Sheridan campus: dev.fast.sheridanc.on.ca:2083
   • If you're not on campus (i.e. at home): https://cpanel.login.dev.fast.sheridanc.on.ca where "login" is your own Sheridan login/user name.
2. Enter your cPanel credentials: this will be your Sheridan login/user name and the cPanel password that you were sent via email when you requested your web space.
3. In cPanel, under the Files category, locate and click on the link/icon Directory Privacy.
   

   

4. On the Directory Privacy screen, you'll see a list of directories with a little "folder" icon next to them. Click on the folder icon beside "public_html", or on the directory name "public_html".
   

   

   
   

   

5. You should see the list of directories you uploaded to the server, such as /assignments and any other directories you included. Now we will password-protect the /assignments sub-directory in the next step.
6. Click on EDIT button to the right of the /assignments directory (NOT the folder icon or name-link).
   

   

7. On the "Set Permissions..." screen, check the checkbox that says, Password protect this directory.
8. Below the checkbox, in the Enter a name ... input field, delete the default value (if any) and instead, type assignments (in lower-case letters).
9. After checking the box and entering the name, click the SAVE button.
   

   

10. You should now see a success message, "Success: The access permissions for [your home directory]/public_html/syst10049/assignments" have been set.
    

    

    
    Click on the "Go Back" link to return to the Directory Privacy screen.
11. Now we will create user credentials: these will be used by only you and your professor to access your assignments (you, for testing and debugging; your professor for troubleshooting and grading). Scroll down a bit to the heading Create User.
12. For the "Username", enter your Sheridan username in all lower-case letters. Do not change your username, do not use mixed case. It must be your exact Sheridan username in all lower-case letters. Failure to follow this instruction will result in your professor being unable to grade your assignment, which could result in a 0 grade for the assignment.
13. Choose a strong password (or use the password generator by clicking the button below the "confirm password" field) and enter it in the New Password field and the Confirm Password field. Make note of this password, as you'll be required to provide this password to your professor, otherwise they won't be able to log in and grade your assignments.
    

    

    
    After entering the required information, click the SAVE button.
14. You should now see a message, "Success: the system has successfully set the password for user [username]."
    

    

15. If you use the "Go Back" link, you'll see that your /assignments directory now has a nice little lock icon next to it instead of a folder icon, and you'll see in the "Private" column that it's now marked as private. This shows that the directory is password protected and can only be accessed by someone with the directory name and the proper credentials.