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Important changes to K-State wireless network

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

K-Staters can now connect to the more secure WPA2 Enterprise wireless network using their eID/password. Faculty, staff, and students who use the wireless network and are on campus during the summer are encouraged to connect today, before the rush of new students and employees in August.

  • Individuals who do not live in residence halls or Jardine Apartments will use the KSU Wireless SSID (network name) instead of the k-state.net SSID.
  • Students living in residence halls or Jardine Apartments will connect to the KSU Housing SSID.

Instructions on how to connect to this more secure wireless network are available at  wireless.k-state.edu/connect, which has links to an easy-to-use, automated configuration tool for Windows, Mac OS X, Ubuntu, Apple iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Android operating systems. For manual configuration instructions, see the Wireless at Kansas State University document (PDF).

On Aug. 1, the k-state.guest SSID will be disabled, and K-Staters will no longer be able to connect to the wireless network using this SSID. Campus visitors will use the KSU Guest SSID, which will not require an eID/password. KSU Guest will restrict access to enterprise systems such as K-State Online, webmail, iSIS student information system, and HRIS employee self-service.

On Oct. 25, the k-state.net SSID will be disabled, and K-Staters will no longer be able to connect to the wireless network using this SSID. Note: If you do not switch to KSU Wireless, you will not be able to use K-State’s wireless network on Oct. 25.

Information about K-State wireless networks is available at wireless.k-state.edu.  If you need assistance, contact your departmental IT support staff or the IT Help Desk, 785-532-7722, helpdesk@k-state.edu.

eID password deadline Wednesday, Sept. 8 (fall 2010)

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

verifyWednesday, Sept. 8, is the fall-semester deadline for changing passwords on K-State eIDs. The university’s mandatory password change each fall and spring applies to individual eIDs as well as group eIDs.

It’s now a bit easier to select a password, thanks to the improved process that confirms when a valid password choice is being typed in (see the confirmation image below). Remember that passwords can also be longer (up to 30 characters) and can include blank spaces. Continue reading “eID password deadline Wednesday, Sept. 8 (fall 2010)” →

eID password-change deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 10

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

verifyThe spring-semester deadline for changing passwords on K-State eIDs is Wednesday, Feb. 10. The  mandatory password change each fall and spring applies to individual eIDs as well as group eIDs.

Be aware that passwords can now be longer — up to 30 characters — and can include blank spaces. All other criteria remain the same. The Password FAQs list the complete password criteria, plus tips on choosing a good password.

  1. To change your password, sign in on the eid.k-state.edu website, click “Change your eID password”, and follow the steps. Continue reading “eID password-change deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 10” →

IT Security Roundtable Jan. 15: Help, passwords are driving me crazy!

Posted on by Harvard Townsend (harv@ksu.edu)

It’s time once again to change your eID password so what better topic for this month’s IT security roundtable than managing your passwords. For online shopping, social networking sites, games, iTunes, PayPal, travel sites (frequent flyer accounts, Expedia, Orbitz, etc.), online banking (checking, savings, credit cards, loans), news and sports sites, blogs and wikis, cellphone account, home Internet provider, cable/satellite TV, your home computer, your laptop, your office computer, your departmental server, K-State’s eID, personal e-mail, K-State e-mail, flexible spending accounts… the list keeps growing. And all of them require a username and password. It’s enough to drive you crazy!

To help maintain your sanity, join us 9-10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15, in Union 213 to hear solutions to effectively manage your passwords:

Jan. 1 starts timeframe for changing eID passwords

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

Jan. 1 through Wednesday, Feb. 10, is the timeframe for all K-Staters to change the passwords on their K-State eIDs for the spring semester. This mandatory password change, which occurs each fall and spring, applies to both individual eIDs and group eIDs. After Feb. 10, unchanged passwords will lose access to K-State webmail, iSIS, K-State Online, K-State dial-in, free laser printing, university computing labs, and other IT services.

An e-mail reminder is typically sent to K-Staters with unchanged passwords a week or two prior to the password deadline. Note that K-State will never ask for your eID password via e-mail. Any message that asks for your password is a phishing scam and should be deleted immediately.

Continue reading “Jan. 1 starts timeframe for changing eID passwords” →

Longer eID passwords, Sept. 9 deadline, and tips

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

verifyWednesday, Sept. 9, is the fall-semester deadline for changing passwords on K-State eIDs. This mandatory password change each fall and spring provides more security by preventing long-term use of the same password. That’s also why K-State eID passwords cannot be reused within a two-year period. Passwords must be changed on individual eIDs as well as group eIDs.

New this fall: Passwords can now be 7-30 characters long (minimum is still seven characters). All other criteria remain the same. See the Password FAQs for details (plus tips for choosing a good password).

Other password points you need to know: Continue reading “Longer eID passwords, Sept. 9 deadline, and tips” →

eID passwords stolen by spear phishing scams again

Posted on by Harvard Townsend (harv@ksu.edu)

One year after receiving the first spear phishing scam, K-Staters are receiving a  flood of new ones in the last week. At least four people have given their eID password to criminals by replying to the scams. In three cases, the criminal(s) used the eID and password to login to K-State’s Webmail and send thousands of spam messages to off-campus sites, thus making K-State appear to be a source of spam and risk getting blocked by major e-mail providers like Hotmail and Gmail.

Remember one simple rule to avoid being a victim of this type of scam: K-State IT support staff will NEVER ask you for your password in an e-mail. Nor would any legitimate business. Thus if you get any kind of e-mail that asks you to reply with your password,  just delete it.

Continue reading “eID passwords stolen by spear phishing scams again” →

Five things you need to know about IT security at K-State

Posted on by Harvard Townsend (harv@ksu.edu)

A new semester has begun, so it is time to remind everyone of their personal responsibility in helping protect themselves online and keep K-State information and technology safe. To quote IT security experts, “the Internet is a bad neighborhood,”* and based on the number of security incidents at K-State in 2008, it’s getting worse. You can still function safely online, though, if you take the time to learn about security and “think before you click.” Here are five things you should know about IT security at K-State: Continue reading “Five things you need to know about IT security at K-State” →

Password-change deadline for eIDs is Feb. 11

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

K-Staters have January through Feb. 11 to change the passwords on their K-State eIDs for the spring semester. This mandatory password change occurs each fall and spring, and applies to both individual eIDs and group eIDs. Long-term use of the same password is a known risk factor, which is why any K-State password cannot be re-used within a two-year period. Continue reading “Password-change deadline for eIDs is Feb. 11” →

Deadline to change eID passwords is Wednesday, Sept. 10

Posted on by Betsy Edwards

Many K-Staters were e-mailed Monday morning that they still need to change their eID password to meet the deadline Wednesday, Sept. 10, for the fall semester. Passwords not changed by the end of that day will be reset by the system, causing owners to lose access to e-mail and other IT resources until those passwords are updated.

  • Change your password: Sign in on the eid.k-state.edu website, click “Change your eID password”, and follow the steps.
  • Forgot your password? Call or stop by the IT Help Desk (785-532-7722, 214 Hale Library) and verify your identity. Staff can set a temporary password for you so you can sign in.
  • Tips for selecting a password, plus Q/As: Read the Password FAQs.

All K-Staters must change their passwords.  This includes individual eIDs, group eIDs, and special-access eIDs. The mandatory password change each fall and spring semester prevents long-term use of the same password, which is a known risk factor.   For the same reason, K-State passwords cannot be reused in a two-year period.