Encrypted Authentication Project
—Making Secure Connections—

Why CU-Boulder is Requiring Secure Clients

Many network applications such as Telnet or FTP send your password and other data (for example Student ID Numbers or ACARD numbers) in "clear text" over the network. This means the data is vulnerable to being seen by someone intent on eavesdropping your network communication. To prevent this from happening, ITS has put in place secure client software that will encrypt data that is to be sent over the network.

If you do not run encrypted sessions, unauthorized persons can obtain your username and password, read your email, access your personal information, modify and delete your files, send e-mail as if it were from you, and run programs that could disrupt CU-Boulder networking and computing services.

If you work with sensitive information that could be used to cause harm to someone (e.g., the address of a stalking victim) or cause the University to be liable for civil or criminal damages (e.g., client medical data used for research) it is even more important to protect your data by using a secure client.