[OPLINTECH] Secure wifi with password in the SSID

[Jessica D. Dooley via OPLINTECH]

Hi Phil,

We provide patron WiFi via a Juniper WLC100, and manage it through pfSense. The traffic is encrypted, and I post the password prominently on signs around the library, including outdoor spots near our benches and parking lots. I make one SSID available at all library locations, so once a patron has connected and entered the password, their device will remember the connection at any library they visit. I've yet to encounter any devices that couldn't support password-protected WiFi. In the past, when I offered unencrypted WiFi, I did have several patrons who complained that their devices would not readily connect to our WiFi without using a password. (There was even a traveling business person whose enterprise-managed laptop absolutely would not connect to unprotected WiFi, even though it used a mandatory VPN once connected.)  Client isolation is configured on the public WiFi. I like the idea of putting the password in the SSID.

Jessica D. Dooley
IT Specialist
Adams County Public Library
937-386-0089
dooleyje at adamscolibrary.org

-----Original Message-----
From: OPLINTECH [mailto:oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org] On Behalf Of Phil Shirley via OPLINTECH
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2017 3:41 PM
To: OPLINTECH
Subject: [OPLINTECH] Secure wifi with password in the SSID

Our wireless internet access for the public is not secure (it doesn't require a password, so it's not encrypted). I would like to add a more secure option and give people the password by putting it the SSID name (something like "CFL secure - password is fallslibrary"), so that the traffic on their radio transmissions will be encrypted.

I would be interested to know if any other libraries are doing that, and, if so, if you also offer an option without a password. I'm inclined to offer both at first and then try taking away the non-encrypted option, but I worry that a few devices won't work with the encrypted option. Any thoughts on this?

Phil
--
Phil Shirley
Technology Services Coordinator
Cuyahoga Falls Library
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
330-928-2117, ext. 109
pshirley at CuyahogaFallsLibrary.org
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