We actually are going the other way. Our wireless has been 'open' since day one, but due to all the issues mentioned and the changes in the legal landscape (or possible changes) we are in the process of securing our wireless. We will be requiring daily users to use our Safe Connect platform which also has the ability for our help desk ( and in the future, other departments) to create guest accounts. We have had multiple RIAA notices with users on wireless with no way to track them down which was one factor in deciding to secure the wireless.
Randy Ethridge Information Services Eastern Illinois University ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hector J Rios" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 8:11:58 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Open-Free Access wireless Scott, I think you answered your own question. We actually considered the idea at some point, strictly because we wanted to make it as easy as possible for everybody to connect to our wireless network. But in the end we decided that the cons were just too many. You’ve mentioned a few already. And the answer to your question as to how you identify who did what, is simply that you won’t be able to. You might be able to map an IP to a MAC address, but then you will still have the tedious task of finding the physical device. I think the only advantage that a wide open network will give you is that you will be able to sniff the traffic. But so will the bad guys, and you won’t know who they are. We’ve made it really easy for our guests to get on our wireless network by obtaining guest accounts that can be created by their hosts (a faculty or staff member) on a web application. We then authenticate them via Cisco’s web auth. Responding to DMCA notices and the like still involves a little digging around, but you do everything from your computer. Hector Rios Louisiana State University From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Scott Powell Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 1:33 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] Open-Free Access wireless I’ve read some responses on how to handle guest access, but I’m being asked a slightly different question by my campus. We are considering providing “free”/”open” wireless access on campus. I can think of a myriad of issues, but I need to find out if anyone else has done this and any comments you might have. We’ve been registering our user base, and then they access the real network via a webvpn. Guests were handled via the web auth in the Cisco WLC. My biggest concerns are how to handle RIAA and Movie industry copyright notices, CALEA, as well as the “unthinkable” activity over our wireless network. If it is “open”, I don’t know how I’ll be able to identify who did what if at all. Any feedback will be appreciated. Scott Powell Network Manager Wittenberg University [email protected] 937-525-3821 937-327-7372 fax www.wittenberg.edu ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
