Not having to search for a computer in public access labs may seem appealing to students with laptops, but those who use the campus wireless network may be at risk.
Computers that access the campus network through wires send and receive information that is encrypted — or coded — making hacking into the network difficult. But computers that access the campus network through wireless signal send and receive information without that protection.
The campus wireless system is broadcast accross campus throughout the Quad, Parade Ground, Union and into 146 multimedia classrooms. Students access the wireless network using wireless cards, which communicate with access points placed throughout campus. The access points attach to the wired network and beam computer signals to the cards.
The network is limited to students, faculty and staff — users are required to log onto the system with their PAWS username and password.
But the Office of Computing Services also gives out guest log-ins and passwords to users without PAWS identification.
Only faculty and staff can provide guests with usernames and passwords, and the Office of Computing Services keeps records of the guest users, said Hector Rios, telecommunications analyst for the OCS.
Even with these security measures, Rios said the network is not as safe as wire connection.
“I don’t think I would log on to my bank account with wireless,” Rios said.
But some students, such as Will Hennegan, co-director of Student Government’s Information Technology, say the benefits of the wireless network outweigh the potential costs.
He said that even though the wireless connection is less secure than a wire connection, it “is nothing but a great thing.”
Hennegan said a hacker would have to have extensive knowledge of the system to break into it.
He also said many students do not see the potential of the wireless network on campus, such as the up-coming virtual computer lab, which will enable users to access software through their PAWS account.
There also are 43 printers in various buildings that are connected to the wireless network and enable students to print from their personal computers from almost anywhere on campus.
Other students, such as Cameron Hanover, a political science freshman, are cautious about using the wireless system.
“I usually don’t use my credit card too much when I am on the wireless,” Hanover said.
But Hanover said he is not afraid to use the connection for other reasons. He said Safari Internet browser, which he uses on his Macintosh computer, is more secure and better at blocking pop-ups than Microsoft Window’s Internet Explorer.