Friday, August 18, 2006
Several students living in campus housing have used computer routers to set up personal wireless Internet networks, in direct violation of ResNet service contracts.
In an informal investigation, ResNet employees found wireless networks in Templin and McCollum halls, and Watkins, Sellards, Douthart, Stephenson, K.K. Amini and Margaret Amini scholarship halls. The most wireless networks were in Stephenson and Douthart scholarship halls, with three and two respectively.
“The main issue with wireless individual networks is security,” said Chuck LaPointe, coordinator of ResNet.
LaPointe explained that when students create a personal wireless network by using a router, they usually don’t take the proper steps to secure it. This makes the network available to anyone.
Jason Cook, Dodge City junior and ResNet employee, said security was only part of the problem with personal wireless networks.
Having wireless Internet at home is a luxury,
-Jason Boots, Plano, Texas, senior and student body president
“It’s a matter of security and a matter of being able to pay,” Cook said.
The cost of Internet service from ResNet is $83.25 per semester. By creating a personal wireless network, it is possible for one student to purchase Internet service and then provide it free of charge to other students.
According to Cook, a computer hub is the only device approved by ResNet to split Internet service between students. A hub allows the Internet service to be split while making sure all computers attached are registered with ResNet and have paid for service.
To find the networks, LaPointe said an employee walked through the residence halls with an electronic device that scans for wireless signals.
“We can actually sniff them out and disable the Mac address of the wireless router,” Lapointe said.
The Mac address individually identifies the machine that outputs the signal.
LaPointe said that if a wireless network was detected, ResNet would send the user an e-mail notifiying them that they had violated their contract and would ask them to disable the network. If the user refuses, ResNet then decides a course of action on a case-by-case basis.
Wireless Internet is already available free of charge to about half of campus. Student Senate is currently working on expanding wireless capabilities to the other half of campus, but has no plans to expand the service to the residence halls.
“Having wireless Internet at home is a luxury,” said Jason Boots, Plano, Texas, senior and student body president. “Wireless in class is an academic necessity.”
Kansan staff writer Nate McGinnis can be contacted at nmcginnis@kansan.com.
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