router at my dorm

I am wondering if I can buy a router and set it up in my drom, right now I get about the same signal as I would in a lead box.

I have an ethernet connection available that I can plug into a router.

But I am wondering if their will be some sort of security software issue.

I had to install some security software to connect to the schools wi-fi and through the ethernet but I don't know if that will cause any problems.

 

Nope you can not most likely. It is against most school's policy and they will easily find it and then kick you off of the network. Thats what they did to my roomate he was off the network for a week because of it.

 

Ask whoever manages the dorm. Some universities/colleges allow it.

 

I use a router at school. Often if it is for personal use they allow it.

 

I agree with all of the above. A tip if you decide to use a wireless router, definitely use WEP/WPA and hide its broadcast. This will deter others from messing with you. Good luck.

 

Do you mean because you want a wireless connection? Why would the university care? Disable DHCP and set it up as a WAP and I cannot understand why anyone would care....maybe I am missing something.....

 

It is often a big security risk to attach a wireless access point to the schools wired infrastructure.

 

the school already has wireless in the dorm but it sucks especially if there are 600 people on it.

Guess I'll ask befor I go to best buy and get a router so i don't get kicked off though

 

Right, that was the same situation we were in. Just ask your IT people if its okay.

 

that wont do much.

any decent network sniffer picks those up.

 

true that. normally a dorm network is setup of strictly internet access and a printer or something. so its not as bad as putting it on the campus LAN.

 

At the very least, because sys admins go bonkers when someone connects an unauthorized device to their networks - partly because they're obsessive-compulsive, and partly because it represents a security risk; after all, how does the sys admin know that some device that wasn't vetted for connecting to the network isn't some malware vector?

It can also play havoc with some of the internals of a network if the new device shows up but doesn't respond to all of the protocols the sys admin is using for network control.

 

Well, they are that (sys admins)....

Most importantly, I would think, is the uncontrolled access--but if they already have uncontrolled wireless access, then it's just pure OC.

I think a wireless access with a non-broadcasting SID secured with wpa2 would be a non-issue...but I've always been a pretty laid back person.

 

At my college they are very tight on policy. Since I have two computers but one connection, I was forced to use a wired router, which makes me less of a target than the other users with open wireless connections in my dorm. I am in a double, so they also do not provide/normally allow a wired router. Tis unfortunate, but as long as you use good discretion, I can foresee an easy resolution if anyone gets touchy.