Coming Soon – Dell Gift Registry

Beginning this spring, the Terrapin Technology Store hopes to begin offering a Dell gift registry. Through this program, students can choose a Dell computer and set up a personal registry. Family and friends can then donate any amount of money toward the purchase of this computer by using PayPal. This is a great chance for new students to register for an ACT program computer to take full advantage of the extended four-year warranty or for Maryland seniors to take advantage of the ACT program’s discounted prices!

Visit the ACT program (www.act.umd.edu) or Terrapin Technology Store (www.oit.umd.edu/techstore) Web sites in April for more information.

100% Wireless Coverage in Dorms Ahead of Schedule!

The rollout of building-wide wireless coverage in all University of Maryland residence halls and Fraternity Row houses, as well as the South Campus Commons and University Courtyards communities, was completed in December — a full eight months ahead of schedule!

While initial wireless coverage in these buildings provided “wireless hot spots,” the recently completed expansion effort was intended to provide coverage throughout the entire building, including living quarters and common use areas.

The wireless network is intended to complement the residence hall wired network, not to replace it. Wired access in the residence halls will remain available through individual jacks in each student room.

For more information on the university wireless network, visit www.oit.umd.edu/wireless.

Rogue Access Points Are Against the Rules

While being a rogue agent is cool in the movies and on TV, hosting a rogue wireless access point on campus is definitely not. Doing so could pose a very real and dangerous threat to the university’s network security. A rogue access point is a wireless access point that has been installed on the university network without prior authorization from OIT. In most cases, these rogue access points are installed by unsuspecting individuals looking for the convenience of connecting to a wireless network. However, because these access points are installed without activating the proper security measures, they leave the university network open to attack.

Providing wireless access to the network without the approval of OIT is in violation of the “Student Guidelines for Network Computer Use” and is prohibited. Devices providing such access may be blocked from using the university network.

For more information on access points and exceptions, call 301.405.7700 or visit
www.oit.umd.edu/wireless.