One of the biggest misconceptions about checking your campus email is that as long as no one sees you type your password, your password is secure. When you use the telnet protocol, you send your username and password as unencrypted plain text. Anyone who is running a program called a Packet Sniffer can detect your username and password. That person then has all the information that they need to log into your account. Here is how you can prevent this from happening.
Windows Users
- First get a copy of TeraTerm with the ssh (Secure SHell) plugin from our software download section.
- Install it by unziping ttermp23.zip and running its install script.
- Next unzip ttssh151.zip in the same directory as you installed Tera Term.
- Now run ttssh.exe.
- Type in the name of your server in the host field.
- Enter in userid and password when it asks.
Linux Users
- Download and install SSH.
- Use slogin for all your connection instead of telnet or rlogin.
By using this software, in place of telnet or rlogin, your password and all your network information will be encrypted so that if by chance some one is packet sniffing they won't be able to read what you are sending.
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