How To Install A Secure Wireless Network In Your Facility

Wireless networks in schools dangerous? – ParentDish

Theres a difference with how RF [radio frequency] goes through todays buildings versus those built in the 70s, she says. Music rooms can also present challenges. You can be standing outside the door and unable to get access because of soundproof walls. Next up is figuring out where to put access points. Penney covered his 750-person high school with 12 access points. We used a service provider through CDW-G who came in and did a site survey of the high school, he says. It is important to do a true site survey instead of guessing where your access points will go. It showed me how to overlap three different access points where I wanted them. At this time, you should also think about any non-tech devices running in your building, in particular microwaves, which usually run on the same channel as wireless. Adam Weber, principal of Techedvise, an education-technology design and consulting firm in Carmel, Indiana, has helped hundreds of schools go wireless. He also recommends doing a site survey, and suggests using wireless-planning software to do it. Whether its an entire campus or one building, we use these tools to ensure that you have proper wireless coverage. Vendors such as Cisco, Meru, and Trapeze have their own software, and this, says Weber, will help with planning regardless of the platform you use. Choosing Equipment Terrell and Nguyen use Cisco products and services; Beseda and Penney use Aruba Networks.
For the original version including any supplementary images Cisco routers UK or video, visit http://www.avnetwork.com/av-technology/0002/how-to-install-a-secure-wireless-network-in-your-facility/84262

Hack to School: Beware the open school wi-fi | ZDNet

The majority of primary and secondary schools in the UK have no introduced wi-fi technology in their computer labs, but opponents argue that children are more vulnerable to electro-magnetic radiation because of their thin skulls and developing nervous systems. I’m skeptical, but I’ll still be watching for further reports on the issue. It seems like every household item is a lurking danger these days, but I would hate to give up my wireless. Ask Us Anything About Parenting Type your question here… Get Answers Recently Asked More Related Questions TheTalkies:RelatedVideos Chicago Public Schools Getting $24 Million in Upgrades Seven schools in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood will get $24 million to pay for projects like wireless internet access, new engineering labs and media classrooms. Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students While some children are banned from using cell phones or iPads at school, there is a growing trend of schools embracing technology and developing Bring Your Own Device programs that encourage students to bring their wireless devices to school. (May 29) Obama, Tech Companies To Get More Devices Into U.S. Classrooms President Barack Obama is set to announce on Tuesday that private companies have agreed to give more than $750 million in devices, software and wireless service to U.S. students, part of Obama’s pledge to help modernize classrooms. The corporate donations come as the Federal Communications Commission said it would spend $2 billion over two year to upgrade Internet speed and quality in schools and libraries. Obama’s Day: Education, Afghanistan, House Democrats President Obama has a diverse Tuesday that includes events on education, Afghanistan, and legislative strategy with House Democrats.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.parentdish.com/2007/08/02/wireless-networks-in-schools-dangerous/

While only 19% of colleges and universities have formally deployed VoIP, 64% are considering it, according to the EDUCAUSE Core Data Service 2003 Summary Report (log on to http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/PUB8001.pdf ). Though progressing more slowly, its adoption in K-12 is also on the rise. Furthermore, according to two surveys from Market Data Retrieval, 37% of K-12 public schools (from The College Technology Review 2003-2004) and 70% of colleges and universities (from Technology in Education 2004) report that they do use wireless networks. Together, VoIP and wireless technology offer better geographic coverage, increased mobility, improved network performance, and significant cost savings for schools and campuses. K-12 Advantages Today, the majority of U.S. classrooms are not equipped with phones. The existing voice system for most K-12 environments is a traditional PBX (private branch exchange), which provides a basic telecommunications link from the main office to the world outside of the school. This system typically d’es not allow teachers to communicate with each other or enable them to be reached directly by parents. It also d’es not let mobile staff, such as security and maintenance personnel, communicate with teachers or office staff. In addition, most schools do not have the budget to upgrade their existing PBX and install new phone lines for every classroom. And even if they did, the outdated infrastructure probably would not support mobile users.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://thejournal.com/articles/2005/03/01/integrating-voice-into-the-school-network-benefits-of-wireless-voip.aspx

Integrating Voice Into the School Network: Benefits of Wireless VoIP — THE Journal

it’s unencrypted, but you have to enter login credentials to gain access. A lot of public wi-fi services, like Comcast’s Xfinity Wi-fi , require some sort of similar login. Don’t confuse this login with security on the wi-fi connection. The network traffic on all these connections is unencrypted and anyone else connected to the same wireless access point can sniff your network traffic and, potentially, impersonate you on sites to which you are connected. I’ll explain that a bit more below. Some institutions spend some bucks to make the network more secure. My alma mater, University of Pennsylvania, uses Cloudpath’s XpressConnect to secure all wireless connections on their campus wireless network with WPA2. WPA2 is a standard for authentication and encryption of the actual network connection to wi-fi. In the simplest form, which you can do with any home wireless router these days, you set a password for the wireless network and anyone who wants to connect to that network needs the password. XpressConnect is certainly accessing a central directory of users and their individual credentials rather than giving everyone the same password.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.zdnet.com/hack-to-school-beware-the-open-school-wi-fi-7000019521/

Schools Seeking To Upgrade Wireless Network – New Canaan News

Hack to School: Beware the open school wi-fi | ZDNet

Besides the wireless access upgrades, the money would account for other equipment leases. The district’s overall capital budget request for 2014-15 is nearly $5.5 million, and it includes the proposed budgets for facilities projects as well. The schools’ operating budget request is $82,414,404, a 6.58 percent increase over the 2013-14 fiscal year. Miller said the upgrades also would benefit the wired infrastructure. The renovated wired infrastructure would last about 10 years, while the new wireless infrastructure would be good for about seven to eight years, he said. Miller said New Canaan High School students are encouraged to bring personal wireless devices to school and many of them already bring a laptop or an iPad to take notes. He also said the quality HP servers UK of the wireless connection at New Canaan schools is “a source of frustration” for students and teachers. “It’s pretty evident students recognize that there’s no consistent connection,” he said.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.newcanaannewsonline.com/news/article/Schools-seeking-to-upgrade-wireless-network-5241767.php

Mobile phones and wireless networks should be banned in school, a European body has ruled.Photo: REX FEATURES By Richard Gray , Science Correspondent 9:30PM BST 14 May 2011 A Council of Europe committee examined evidence that the technologies have “potentially harmful” effects on humans, and concluded that immediate action was required to protect children . In a report, the committee said it was crucial to avoid repeating the mistakes made when public health officials were slow to recognise the dangers of asbestos, tobacco smoking and lead in petrol. The report also highlighted the potential health risks of cordless telephones and baby monitors, which rely on similar technology and are widely used in British homes. Fears have been raised that electromagnetic radiation emitted by wireless devices can cause cancers and affect the developing brain. The findings were seized on by campaigners who oppose the spread of wireless devices. Related Articles 15 May 2011 The committee concluded that member states should: Set thresholds for levels of long-term exposure to microwaves of the type emitted by mobile phones; Introduce clear labelling on products indicating the presence of electromagnetic fields and any health risks associated with use; Ban all mobile phones and wireless networks in classrooms and schools; Run information campaigns aimed at children and young adults about the risks to human health; Step up research on less-dangerous types of antennae and mobile phones. The conclusions contradict advice from the World Health Organisation and the Department of Health , which says exposure to electromagnetic fields poses little or no risk to human health. The Council of Europe, which has 47 member states and is based in Strasbourg, cannot impose its will on governments, but is highly influential in policy-making and has often seen its decisions enacted through conventions and treaties. A draft resolution calling on governments to “take all reasonable measures to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields” from mobile phones and similar devices, including the ban in schools was adopted unanimously by the organisation’s Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs . The committee is composed of 84 MPs and politicians from member states, and its vice-chairman is Lord Prescott, the former Deputy Prime Minister.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/mobile-phones/8514380/Ban-mobile-phones-and-wireless-networks-in-schools-say-European-leaders.html

Alaska Communications Brings Technology to Anchorage School District Schools – Yahoo Finance

WPA2 separates everyone’s traffic from everyone else’s. Because of this, if the provider of a public wi-fi network is interested in protecting their users, they should post a big sign on the wall with the network name and password on it. It doesn’t matter if everyone knows the password; the proprietor wants them to get one. But with WPA2 the users will be far better protected from attack. (Just to be complete, WPA is an earlier version of WPA2 which is not as secure; WEP is the earliest version of wi-fi encryption and is easily compromised.) Wireless networks known by Windows and their security levels But sometimes all you have is open wi-fi, and remember, just because you have to log in to the network in order to gain access to the Internet or local resources doesn’t mean the network isn’t open. Security professionals have always known that open wi-fi is utterly insecure, but a few years ago an attack tool arrived which brought the problem more into the public consciousness. Firesheep is a Firefox plugin which searches the local network for other connections and allows the user to co-opt them; yes, the Firesheep user could, back when it came out, find other users on the network on Facebook and take over their Facebook session. The Firesheep user could then act as the hijacked user, posting whatever they pleased. I switched into past tense in the last paragraph because this specific attack is not doable anymore. Firesheep created enough outrage that Facebook and many other large services switched to using SSL/HTTPS for all connections.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.zdnet.com/hack-to-school-beware-the-open-school-wi-fi-7000019521/

Ban mobile phones and wireless networks in schools, say European leaders – Telegraph

Alaska Communications and ASD signed a multi-year agreement that extends a long standing relationship between the two organizations. Under this agreement, Alaska Communications will provide enhanced broadband services, including faster broadband speeds and a private wireless network, to the districts more than 100 locations to meet ASDs growing technology and educational needs. Alaska Communications will assist ASD in meeting its educational objectives by: Increasing bandwidth to all schools and facilities, 95 of which will be served by fiber-optic cable by early 2015. Deploying private network access to 4G LTE wireless services to provide high-speed, secure and reliable access to Web-based learning tools and student records. Providing a wireless affinity program available to ASD students, families and employees with additional discounts on wireless devices and plans, enabling more students to access electronic learning tools at home and in the classroom. Partnering Alaska Communications subject matter experts with ASD staff to develop technologies and bring new learning tools to the classroom. Were delighted to provide Anchorage School District with these services to ensure our communitys students, teachers and parents can access secure, high-speed, reliable Internet and to develop technologies to pursue educational goals, Alaska Communications President and CEO Anand Vadapalli said. About Alaska Communications Headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska Communications ( ALSK ) is a leading provider of high-speed wireless, mobile broadband, Internet, local, long-distance and advanced broadband solutions for businesses and consumers in Alaska. The Alaska Communications network includes advanced broadband and voice networks and the most diverse undersea fiber optic system connecting Alaska to the contiguous United States.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://finance.yahoo.com/news/alaska-communications-brings-technology-anchorage-200500338.html