The code must be revealed
How much time should a person waste in the quest for information that they need to do their job? The attitude of some institutions concerning things like access codes is bewildering. Not so much where I work (although there are moments…) but other members of my family have come head to head with the beast known as system security.
We’re a laptop family; currently there are five in regular use, and all of them depend on wireless access to the networks around them. At home, there isn’t an issue. All of the machines have been properly configured, and as soon as the starting chime has been heard, the ‘net is available. Away from home, it’s another story.
Two of my sons attend a local community college where the authentification system depends on an assigned student identification number. That’s fair; only those that belong to the school can access the network. On a daily basis, there is no issue. My spouse, on the other hand, works in a local secondary school where all knowledge of things like WEP codes flows from the Oracle of Technology. This person believes that knowledge IS power; when you need the code, it will be entered for you, and if you “toss your cookies” then you’ll wait for an available moment. As you can guess, the availability factor goes with some hidden agenda (tide tables, phases of the moon, what program is on TV that evening?) Frustration levels are running a little high around the place, because wireless access isn’t the only control issue.
Today, the rumour that a student had cracked the code using his iTouch has put a bee buzzing in the jar. My own suspicion is that this is akin to an urban myth, but I’d love to play Mythbusters. Just because.
