doIT Rules and Recommendations:

Use of Wireless Keyboards

A wireless keyboard can be a convenient productivity tool, especially for those with special space and/or portability constraints.  While the doIT is sensitive to the flexibility and overall usefulness of wireless keyboards, we must also keep in mind the security risks involved.

Due to the nature of wireless, all keystrokes typed on such a device are available to be "sniffed" from the air, over considerable distances, using relatively simple tools.  Although manufacturers claim that the data being transferred is encrypted, the technologies involved are usually not considered to be "strong".

For these reasons, doIT does not typically approve the purchase of wireless keyboards.  In the rare instance that we would approve a wireless keybaord, the following conditions must be met:

• The user does not have access to Banner and/or Poeplesoft
• The user's position does not involve their sending/receiving any personal, private, and/or legally protected data via e-mail or other means on the workstation in question

Instead, we recommend that the faculty or staff member use/purchase a cabled keyboard and a wireless mouse.

For more information, please contact the doIT helpdesk at xHELP