I’m using PixelBlaze in a University class (first time, I have a lot to learn). I’m so sorry if I’ve missed something basic, but I can’t figure out how to secure individual PixelBlaze boards on a WiFi network. My PBs are on our University WiFi network (MAC address approved, not password), and they’re accessible via discover.pixelblaze.com. But I don’t want anyone to be able to deliberately or accidentally get into someone else’s running PixelBlaze & change things. Is there no way to password protect things? Creating our own WiFi network or subnet on campus isnt’ a possibility - university doesn’t allow it. Suggestions most welcome. Thanks!
John
There isn’t an easy way to lock them down on a local network, in a way that would prevent someone from accessing another’s device. There might be some quick trickery that could be done to add something of surface-level that prevents accidents by modifying the built-in web app, but there isn’t anything on the device network level that would support doing this in a secure way that prevents a determined or malicious actor from gaining access.
The AP route is the most secure way to currently do this, where the network passphrase provides security for access.
While I definitely understand that adding subnets and new networks to the campus network isn’t allowed/feasible, the local and isolated, stand-alone networks that a PB creates should not run afoul of your campus IT systems. They would not require any action on the part of your campus IT, would not connect to, nor interfere with any of their existing networks or infrastructure. If you can use your phone as a hot spot on campus, then this would work as well. If you can run a PB in WiFi setup mode without black helicopters circling overhead, then you are probably good.
They would have to deploy Wireless Intrusion Detection Systems to detect and alert on it, and since these are not being used for anything nefarious and are completely isolated, I wouldn’t think it violates any rules/policies.