Changes to UF wireless network access begin May 1

April 22, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Starting May 1, if your personal or University of Florida-issued laptop runs Microsoft Windows and you use it to connect to the UF wireless network, then your laptop must clear a security check every seven days to connect to the UF wireless network.

Your computer must have current antivirus software and all Windows updates installed before access to the UF wireless network is allowed.

This new process is intended to reduce the number of vulnerable computers on the UF wireless network, thereby reducing the number of infected computers and the threat to other UF computers. A benefit of this new process is that users will less likely become victims of identity theft.

If your Windows-based laptop currently runs antivirus software and allows Windows to perform Microsoft updates, you will experience only a slight access delay of about 30 seconds prior to connecting. If your laptop is found to be compliant then security checks will not run again for seven days. However, if your computer fails a security check, it will take longer to connect because antivirus software or missing Windows updates must be installed prior to accessing the UF wireless network. To run the security checks, your Windows-based computer must have Java or ActiveX plug-ins.

The security check process begins May 1. During Summer A your laptop will be allowed to connect even if it fails the security checks. However, if your laptop computer does not have either Java or ActiveX plug-ins installed, the security checks cannot run and you won’t be able to connect to the UF wireless network.

Starting July 10, your computer will not be allowed to connect to the UF wireless network if it fails the security checks.

The security checks affect only Windows-based computers, and only when they attempt to connect to the UF wireless network. Mobile phones and computers not running Windows such as Macs are not affected.

This security check process is similar to checks performed on the Housing and Residence Education network and the Health Science Center network. To facilitate the campus community experience, UF is providing a software application called CloudPath Xpress Connect that will configure your computer properly to run the security checks. Contact the UF Computing Help Desk for assistance with the new wireless security check process, 352-392-HELP (4357) or helpdesk@ufl.edu.

For more information on this or any of the university’s information security policies and initiatives, visit the Information Security Web site.