Issue:
Is public Wifi safe to use with GRCC systems?
Environment:
- VMWare Horizon
- People Soft
- Gmail
Information:
There is always a risk when using public wifi and using there own personal hot spot or VPN is considered the most secure. That being said, there are other security measures GRCC currently has in place such as transfer layer security when browsing sites, accessing email, or VMWare for when the only option is public wifi.
If you need to use public wifi, please be vigilant. Ensure you look at the address bar when visiting a site to make sure you are where you expect to be. If you are presented with a pop up asking to accept a certificate that you have never seen before, this can be considered suspicious and is probably best to avoid doing so. Very long page loads can be a sign that someone is trying a man in the middle attack and finding a different hotspot might be the best coarse of action. Also keep in mind the source of the open wifi as well. A hospital or bank probably has better controls in place then a mom and pop restaurant.