Securing Wireless Access Points and Routers

Configuring a Wireless Router for BU-ResNet

This information is no longer accurate do to the fact that Bethel has moved to 802.1X network security, which requires different configuration than was previously required. Please see the network page for further information.

Article Objective:

Provide students living in residential housing with the necessary information to successfully and set up and safely restrict traffic on a personal access point or router.

Important:

Although ITS doesn't officially support wireless access points, students are allowed to bring them into residential housing.

If you bring a wireless access point to campus, you must secure the access point. This means you must prevent unauthorized individuals from using your access point. If you don't secure your wireless access point and an unauthorized person uses it in a way that violates Bethel's Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), the owner of the access point will be held responsible.

Additionally, when naming your wireless access point or router never use BU-Wireless or BU-ResNet as your SSID. Doing so violates ITS policy and your router will be removed from the network until it is changed.

Below is a list of useful resources that can help you set up your wireless access point. These links are from The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's Onguardonline website located at: http://www.onguardonline.gov/

• Password Protect Your Basestation/Change the Default Password:
  Linksys | NETGEAR | Apple AirPort
  Wrong password? Click here.

• Require Encrypted Passwords for WiFi Access:
  WPA Passwords: Linksys | NETGEAR | Apple AirPort
  WEP Passwords: Linksys | NETGEAR | Apple AirPort

• Restrict WiFi Access to Only Your Computers (MAC Address Control):
  Linksys | NETGEAR | Apple AirPort

• Don't Broadcast Your SSID:
  Linksys | NETGEAR | Apple AirPort