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Secure Your Wireless Internet Connection

When you are connecting to a wireless network, such as Concordia's campus wireless network, your username and password are sent in plain-text. This means that anyone with network monitoring software can gain access to your information and use it for malicious activities. To secure your credentials and all your Internet traffic you must encrypt your connection to the wireless network. For Windows computers, this will require the installation of special security software. Apple computers already have the software installed but it will need to be configured.

Encrypt a Wireless Connection in Windows

The first step to secure your wireless connection is to install the SecureW2 TTLS plug-in. The software can be installed from here.

Windows XP

  1. Right-click on the Windows wireless icon near the clock. Select Open network connections. Right-click on Wireless Network Connection and select Properties.
  2. Click on the WIreless Networks Tab. Under Preferred Networks select cordsecure and click on the Properties button.
  3. Under the Association tab, make sure the SSID of the wireless network is cordsecure. In the Wireless network key section set Network Authentication to WPA2 and Data Encryption to AES.
  4. Click on the Authentication tab. In the EAP type box select SecureW2 EAP-TTLS. Click on the Properties button.
  5. Click the configure button to edit the DEFAULT profile.
  6. On the Connection tab, select enable session resumption/Fast reconnect.
  7. Click on the Certificates tab. Uncheck the Verify server certificate box.
  8. Click on the Authentication tab. In the Select Authentication Method box select PAP.
  9. Click on the User account tab. Uncheck the Prompt for credentials box. Enter your Concordia College username and password in the appropriate fields. LEAVE THE DOMAIN FIELD BLANK!

Windows Vista

  1. Right-click on the wireless icon near the clock. Select Network and Sharing Center.
  2. Click on the Manage wireless networks link.
  3. In the Manage wireless networks dialog box, click the Add button.
  4. Select Manually create a network profile.
  5. The network name must be cordsecure. Set Security type to WPA2-Enterprise and Encryption type to AES. Click Next.
  6. Click Close to exit the dialog.
  7. Right-click on cordsecure and select Properties.
  8. Click the Security tab.
  9. In the Security type box make sure WPA2-Enterprise is selected and under Encryption type verify AES is selected as well.
  10. In the Choose a network authentication method box select SecureW2 EAP-TTLS. Click the Settings button.
  11. Click the configure button to edit the DEFAULT profile.
  12. On the Connection tab, select enable session resumption/Fast reconnect.
  13. Click on the Certificates tab. Uncheck the Verify server certificate box.
  14. Click on the Authentication tab. In the Select Authentication Method box select PAP.
  15. Click on the User account tab. Uncheck the Prompt for credentials box. Enter your Concordia College username and password in the appropriate fields. LEAVE THE DOMAIN FIELD BLANK!

Encrypt a Wireless Connection on a Mac

Mac OS X already has the encryption software built in to the operating system. To enable encryption on your wireless connection:

Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)

  1. Go to System Preferences and click on the Network icon.
  2. Make sure Airport is selected in the Show box.
  3. Click the plus icon to add a wireless network.
  4. Give the network a name, usually cordsecure.
  5. In the Wireless security field, select WPA2 Enterprise from the list.
  6. Select TTLS - PAP from the 802.1X Configuration list. Enter your Concordia College username and password in the appropriate fields.
  7. Click OK and then Apply Now.

Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

  1. Go to System Preferences and click on the Network icon.
  2. Click on the Airport listing on the left. Click the Advanced button.
  3. In the AirPort section, click the plus icon to add a wireless network.
  4. Click on the 802.1X button.
  5. Click the Plus button near the lower left corner and select Add User Profile.
  6. Give the profile a name, generally cordsecure.
  7. Enter your Concordia College username and password in the appropriate fields. Select the cordsecure network from the Wireless Network list. Make sure the TTLS box is checked and that PEAP is unchecked.
  8. Select the TTLS listing and click the Configure button.
  9. In the TTLS Inner Authentication list, select PAP. Click OK on the dialog.
  10. Click on the Airport button.
  11. Click on the plus icon to add a wireless network.
  12. Give the network a name in the Network Name field, usually cordsecure. In the Security list box select WPA2 Enterprise.
  13. Enter your Concordia username and password.
  14. In the 802.1X box, select the profile (cordsecure) created earlier. Click the Add button.
    1. You may need to click the Show All button and then go back into the Network panel.
  15. Click OK and then Apply.