There are two forms of wireless network connections at the University, but only Secure* Air keeps personal information private. Both Secure*Air and Patriot*Air are designed for the exclusive use of the Patriot community, which includes University students, faculty, staff, and official guests of the University.
Secure*Air is a secure and encrypted wireless connection to the Internet while Patriot*Air is an unencrypted and unprotected wireless connection to the Internet. An unprotected connection means sensitive or confidential information sent over Patriot*Air may be compromised.
Secure*Air uses SSL, Secure Sockets Layer, and WPA/WPA2, Wi-Fi Protected Access, to keep wireless information secure, said Michael Vick, Manager of Campus Computing Services.
Vick said the reason there are two connections is because some older wireless devices may not be WPA/WPA2 compliant, meaning they are unable to connect to Secure*Air.
Some students said they were not aware of the difference. “I didn’t know it (Patriot*Air) was unprotected,” said junior Audrey De Jenga, a psychology major. “I don’t really know anything about it (Secure*Air) and I haven’t had a chance to find out any information about it.” De Jenga said more students would probably use Secure*Air if they knew more about it.
Sophomore Deidra Monson, an English major, said she uses Secure*Air because she prefers using a secure connection. Plus, she added, “It’s more convenient, because you don’t have to log in every time you connect.”
A patriot username and password is required to use the connections, the same user information as the POPs, student e-mail and blackboard systems use.
There is no performance difference between Patriot*Air and Secure*Air, both use the same 802.11 b/g wireless standard, but there is a difference in log in procedures. Directions for using Patriot * Air may be found at ccs.uttyler.edu/patriotair/.
Users choosing a secured connection are prompted to install an add-on, which allows them to connect to Secure*Air. The add-on asks for a Patriot account username and password and some other information, upon finishing installation users are automatically connected to Secure*Air. Once users have connected Secure*Air, logging in is no longer necessary unless the user changes his or her password.
As stated on the University website about Patriot*Air, all users of Patriot*Air and Secure*Air are subject to security testing and monitoring, as well as the University information technology acceptable use policy.
Patriot*Air and Secure*Air are available in the following buildings:
Patriot*Air and Secure*Air is not available in the following buildings but is under consideration for development Vick said:
Wireless coverage is also available in certain outdoor locations, including new study area in front of the Robert R. Muntz Library.
Patriot*Air and Secure*Air will be available in the new UC and Art Center once renovations and construction are completed, Vick said.
“Steps are being taken to get enough bandwidth so that Patriot*Air will be available on the Longview and Palestine campuses,” he said. Vick said there are no plans to get wireless access to the Temporary Classroom Building (TCB) near the library. Users may also notice there is limited access in some locations because buildings and other structures can interfere with the wireless signal.
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