What does the new Safeguard technology do?

The technology prevents obtaining illegal copyright material.  Once it observes such behavior, preventive technical safeguards are implemented to assist in informing the user of the activities.  Future misuses of BGSU’s network to obtain such material will be handled with additional safeguards.  To view the levels of preventive technical safeguards, please click here.

Why is this new Safeguard technology being implemented?

Obtaining copyright material without the owners' knowledge and approval is against the law.  The technology is assisting in allowing LEGAL uses of the software to continue.  Additionally, P2P software is a drain on campus technology resources.  This technology will assist in increasing everyone's network speed.

P2P file sharing has been around for a long time now.  Why is BGSU just now preventing my downloads?

Illegal uses of P2P file sharing programs have continually increased in the past several years; new technologies are being marketed for such purposes.  The stance that BGSU is taking on P2P is not only to protect you the user, but to also protect the campus as a whole.  The use of information technology is regulated by entities beyond BGSU.  Various government agencies and contractual obligations create additional compliance issues to which users must adhere.  For more information on these compliance issues please refer to:

                            http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/cio/page52521.html#no2

What are evasive P2P clients?

The Safeguard technology implemented on the BGSU network can recognize and control P2P traffic. Some P2P clients use encryption or other techniques to hide the content of their transfers, this type of traffic will be prevented to allow protection against violating copyright owners’ rights.  Some examples of such P2P clients include LimeWire and BitTorrent.  The exact list of P2P networks that are affected by this setting will automatically change over time as the P2P networks evolve.

If I have any questions who do I contact?

If you have technical questions and you live in a Residence Hall contact:

Residential Computing Connection (RCC):

•            2-4722

•            rcchelp@bgsu.edu

From anywhere else on campus call:

Technology Support Center:

•            2-0999

•            tsc@bgsu.edu

Any other questions can be directed to:

Information Security Office:

•            2-0999

•            infosec@bgsu.edu