Steve brings up a good point. There are really two distinct, though somewhat related issues in this discussion: 1) securing our school networks from unsecured personal devices and 2) preventing access, while on campus, to non-school wireless networks. NAC appliances will work for the first and give the kind of access to students and staff that Peter mentioned in an earlier email. The second is likely impossible considering the cell phone/Blackberry type of devices that we will be seeing soon.

Doug Reaves




                                                                    
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>>> Stephen Barner <[log in to unmask]> 3/16/2007 2:33 PM >>>
I think this issue will really explode when Internet access becomes a
standard feature of cell phone subscriptions. It will become virtually
impossible to control private devices when they don't use the school
network, which is what this thread started with. Perhaps we shouldn't
try to control the technology but its application.

--Steve Barner

-----Original Message-----
From: School Information Technology Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peter Drescher
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 1:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask] 
Subject: Re: Unsecured wireless in nearby homes

This is such a good topic to discuss.. I wish for more to chime in on
this.. I think it gets at a bigger and more complex issue that we all
will be facing.. 

More and more we are going to see students coming to schools with their
own machines..whether they be laptops, PDA's, Blackberry's, etc..   How
do we keep schools relevant for our students and allow the devices they
are more and more comfortable with AND allow our networks to remain safe
and functioning within the schools? 

Great thread.. Would like to hear other solutions and approaches to this
up and coming issue.  Thanks...   


Peter Drescher
Technology Integration Specialist
Vermont Institutes
Alumni Hall
45 College St.
Montpelier, VT  05602
802-828-1381 (voice)
802-828-1327 (fax)
[log in to unmask] 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: School Information Technology Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Carolin
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 1:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask] 
Subject: Re: Unsecured wireless in nearby homes

We're in a rural location, but did run into this situation with one of
our few neighbors.  I periodically scan our airwaves with Netstumbler to
look for other wireless networks, and used it to narrow down the source.
Once done, I contacted them directly, and explained the situation,
stressing it was in THEIR best interests not to have our kids surfing on
their network.  I used the example of someone hacking the Whitehouse
from THEIR ISP connection, and how the finger would be pointing back at
them.  Needless to say, they wanted their network secured, which I
assisted them in doing. (being the good neighbor that we are).

2 other interesting points came out of the situation:  1)  the wireless
access point that they were using was out of the box "unsecured" as are
most these days (for convenience??) 2) they weren't even using it for
computers, but rather to control their Tivo (so don't necessarily think
surfing).

Anyways, if I learned anything from this it was: 1) stay diligent, and
2) keep on good terms with your neighbors!

John
 

-----Original Message-----
From: School Information Technology Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Eric Hall
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 11:40 AM
To: [log in to unmask] 
Subject: Re: Unsecured wireless in nearby homes


> We would like to hear if and how districts are dealing with unsecured 
> wireless access points in nearby homes that provide unrestricted 
> Internet access to students' and staff's personally-owned machines in 
> school.

We're in a big field, so this is not an issue.

HOWEVER
 
> We permit students' and staff's personally-owned laptops to access our

> network

I would be interested to know how others are dealing with THIS issue in
view of security threats (virus, spyware, etc.). We have had more and
more requests for personal laptops to connect to our network, and my
feeling has been that letting unknown or unsecured personal machines
onto the network defeats the purpose of firewalls and network virus
protection.

Again - how are others dealing with this? Are school networks generally
"open" for anyone to plug in to?

Eric Hall
Technology Coordinator
Waterbury/Duxbury Schools
Washington West Supervisory Union
Waterbury, VT
(802) 244-6100

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