Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia will launch a new wireless network for guests on July 19, and is asking students, faculty and staff with a valid UGA MyID to exclusively use the existing PAWS-Secure for wireless access to the Internet.
The PAWS wireless network will not be available after July 19 and anyone with a valid UGA MyID is asked to use PAWS-Secure. Campus visitors without a UGA MyID can use the new wireless network, “Welcome to UGA.”
“Most people using our wireless network are connected to PAWS-Secure, which we launched in 2011,” said Brian Rivers, associate CIO for information security at UGA. “But, we want everyone with a valid UGA MyID to switch from PAWS to PAWS-Secure to provide additional security for all of their work and personal devices.”
PAWS-Secure encrypts data sent between a computer, phone or tablet connected to a wireless access point. PAWS-Secure, which requires a one-time registration, is the preferred wireless network for UGA.
Most devices will automatically detect a wireless network and will prompt users to select a preferred Wi-Fi network. Anyone trying to connect to PAWS after July 19 will be asked to join another wireless network, such as PAWS-Secure or “Welcome to UGA.” The PAWS network should be removed from the list of preferred networks on computers and mobile devices.
First-time users of PAWS-Secure will be asked to provide their UGA MyID and password to access the encrypted wireless network. Campus visitors without a MyID will be asked to contact the EITS Help Desk to receive a temporary guest account and password to access “Welcome to UGA.”
The wireless network changes on July 19 will also affect users at UGA’s extended campuses in Griffin, Buckhead and Gwinnett.
For more information, contact the EITS Help Desk at 706-542-3106 or helpdesk@uga.edu. Additional information about the wireless networks is available at eits.uga.edu.