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Solution For College's Bad Network Policy?
DAMN MY LIFE writes "I'm going to Central Michigan University in the fall. Upon examination of their poorly organized network usage policies, I'm worried that using their internet service will expose my web browsing habits, emails, and most importantly, passwords. Another concern I have is the 'Client Security Agent' that students are required to install and leave on their systems to use the network. Through this application, the IT department scans everyone's computer for what they claim are network security purposes. Of course, scanning a person's hard drive can turn up all kinds of things that are personal. Do all colleges have such extreme measures in place? Is there any way that I can avoid this? There are no wireless broadband providers available in the area, I already checked."
In the real world, if you want freedom to do as you please you have to pay for it yourself. In this case it might mean you have to fork out for your own 3G internet connection and pay accordingly (oh yes, and comply with the providers rules) or go and live somewhere where you can get a normal net connection from an ISP (oh yes, and comply with their rules).
This is all good experience for when / if you graduate and get a job. Suddenly you'll find that you can't goof around on other people's networks all day - downloading whatever the hell you please and doing whatever you want, they'll expect you to DO WHAT THEY TELL YOU TO. Consider this and the restrictions your university is imposing to be one, small step down this road. if you don't like it, well you can always go and buy your own ISP and then create whatever rules or freedoms you want.
politicians are like babies' nappies: they should both be changed regularly and for the same reasons
I wish I had some mod points. I'd either mod you down as stupid, or unfunny. Not sure which you fall under.
You sir, are an ass for supporting this crud. No software should be required by the university on any students computer. If you want to do any checking and blocking, do it remotely with nessus as you mention. Any IT department which demands a student install *spyware* on their computer simply to be allowed internet access is an absolutely horribly misguided and mismanaged IT department. I don't care what the software purports to scan for and not scan for. It IS spyware, and nothing less.
Morphing Software
I love all these poor "abused and mistreated comments" from the students who think they are above the common sense rules and requirements that everyone else has to play by. I'm sorry you feel you are being wronged. Those rules /scans are there for a reason - its to protect everyone - just because you feel you are so uber and your pc is simply not capable of having some network malware/trojan - sounds like your pc is probably loaded with them - since i bet you go to sites that you shouldn't be. If you want unlimitted/unrestricted access - pay for it yourself. If you can't or there are no other providers - sounds like you need to button your lip and be thankful the school allows it at all. People who keep pushing the limits like this - are reasons that the whole mess would get shut down - and you can use the library /open lab computers.