ARCHIVED: At IU, what is unencrypted wireless access?

To accommodate users of handheld devices that cannot make a VPN connection, Indiana University now offers wireless access to the Internet and a limited set of IU resources (e.g., IU email) without requiring a VPN connection at IU Bloomington and IUPUI. Registration is still required for all wireless devices. This unencrypted wireless service provides access to some IU resources that use secure protocols (for example, HTTPS, https://oncourse.iu.edu/). For more, see At IUB and IUPUI, what can I access with my wireless connection?

This service allows unencrypted access to the Internet. If you use a laptop or a handheld device with access to a VPN client, UITS recommends you use VPN whenever you make a wireless connection. VPN encrypts your wireless session and allows full access to IU services. For help setting up a VPN connection, see The basics of VPN at IU.

How the service change affects VPN users

If you're using VPN for wireless access, be aware that if your VPN connection is dropped, you will still have limited, unencrypted Internet access. Therefore, you may not realize the VPN connection has dropped. To ensure that your connection is still encrypted, check your VPN connection periodically to confirm that it's still active, especially if you have moved your computer.

Also see:

• At IU, how do I register my wireless Pocket PC, Windows Mobile, or Palm device with DHCP?
• At IU, how do I register my iPhone or iPod touch for use on campus?