Could information be intercepted while transmitting over wireless?
Wireless network access is not fully secure! Using a wireless network is similar to using CB radio such that anyone with the proper equipment could listen in and view what you are doing, obtain your passwords, or capture the data that you access. It is very important that you do not use data or resources over the wireless network that would expose your password, credit card/bank information, or private data.
One means available for you to protect your data and passwords while using the wireless network is to use applications that utilize some form of encryption. Some web sites, such as UWP's NetMail web client, use a protocol called SSL to encrypt your data so that the wrong person cannot decipher it. Sites that have a URL containing HTTPS utilize SSL to protect your web session. Most web browsers display a padlock to show you that the session is encrypted.
Another means to lessen the risk from identity theft is to use different passwords for Internet sites than you use for on-campus accounts. Many Internet sites and services do not protect your password by encrypting it before sending over the network. Keep this in mind when entering your account or password information when using the web. For instance, Yahoo Mail has a "secure" mode that you can use on the sign-in page that will protect your password, but still does not protect the email data that you send or receive.
Due to the data and password security issues with wireless networks, we have currently chosen to restrict the types of applications that can be used to those that pose a smaller risk of exposing your password. Mail applications such as IMAP and POP currently don't protect your password and therefore are not supported on the wireless network.