MIT SECURE wireless - Windows Security Alert
Question
Why do I get a Windows Security Alert when I try to connect to the MIT Secure wireless network?
The connection attempt could not be completed
The Credentials provided by the server could not be validated. We recommend that you terminate the connection and contact your administrator with the information provided in the details. You may still connect but doing so exposes you to security risk by a possible rogue server.
Answer
The security alert lets you know that the RADIUS authentication server you are connecting to is not necessarily a trusted source. This is because your computer does not know the name of the RADIUS server used by the MIT SECURE network. Thus, it has no way to distinguish between an untrusted RADIUS server used by a fraudulent wireless network masquerading as the true MIT SECURE network.
You can connect to the MIT SECURE network by confirming that you are communicating with the trusted RADIUS server used by the MIT SECURE wireless network. To do this:
- Open the Details for the security message.
- Confirm that the RADIUS Server is oc11-radius-wireless-1.mit.edu or w92-radius-wireless-1.mit.edu
- Confirm that the Root CA is AddTrust External CA Root (the screen shot differs as it recently changed).
- If the above matches the certificate details displayed on your computer, then you can safely click Connect and use the MIT SECURE wireless network.
If the information does NOT match, click Terminate and notify the Service Desk or the Security team.
See also
- [archive:MIT SECURE Wireless Certificate Fingerprints]