IT Security Topic — Wireless Security

Are you sharing your most personal information with everyone? Wireless is a shared medium that is broadcast via radio waves. This means that data transmitted by wireless users can be easily captured, making sensitive information (such as social security numbers and credit cards) transmitted wirelessly inherently insecure.

It's important that you take additional steps to encrypt and protect sensitive information that you send over a wireless network. And that means anywhere you connect wirelessly; like in the UMC, at Starbucks, at DIA or even home wireless networks. One way to protect yourself is to use the campus's VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN provides a secure encrypted tunnel from your computer to CU's network whether you are on or off campus.

VPN software is available, at no cost, for download from ITS for Windows, Mac and even Linux and Solaris machines.

• VPN Overview
• VPN Support
• VPN Software Downloads and Instructions

In general, offers of "free" service from an unknown source are often too good to be true. Be wary of connecting to unknown wireless networks. Hackers do setup fake wireless networks (or "evil twin hotspots") in an effort to capture the information you are sending over wireless networks. Using that "Free Wireless" network you see out there may actually come at a very high price.

If you have a wireless network at home it is important to secure that network so that an attacker can not use your network for nefarious activities. In 2006 a Denver woman was surprised when the police came to her house after an attacker used her wireless network to carry out a crime. Use Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) to make sure only you can connect to your network and that no one can eavesdrop on your wireless network. Find out more at http://onguardonline.gov/wireless.html.

Contact Information
Campus IT Security Office
303-735-4357 (5-HELP from an on-campus phone)
security@colorado.edu

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Useful URLs

Check out these other web pages to learn more about wireless: CU-Boulder Wireless networking overview Wireless frequently asked questions Wireless policies Wireless partnerships Wireless coverage maps Setting up your computer for wireless Additional wireless security information