When traveling in China, you may find that access to Google's GMail service is blocked at the country's "Great Firewall." This can often be circumvented by use of a third-party VPN service that you've purchased prior to your trip. However, please keep in mind that electronic eavesdropping is considered to be widely prevalent in China, and the computers of foreign travelers are often compromised in an attempt to gain access to research and corporate data. In short, if you can live without your e-mail for the duration of your stay, that's the safest thing to do. If you can't, consider taking "loaner" computers with only data necessary for your trip. Upon your return to the US, change your CatID password and have any electronic devices you took with you (such as a phone or notebook computer) securely erased by your IT support staff.
- Consider establishing a non-UNI email account before you leave that your close friends and family can use during your trip and simply refrain from using your UNI account during your trip
- If you are going to use a VPN while in China, test and establish that connection before you leave. If, while in China, you receive a warning or a failure to connect, that means that your VPN connection is being intercepted and SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED. If you plan to utilize a VPN while abroad, you may wish to have a conversation with someone from the IT Security Office in advance.
- In some cases, the use of Remote Desktop may be a better option when traveling to China. This system allows you to use one computer to remotely connect to another. In this case, your "loaner" computer would "take control" of a pre-determined UNI network computer, so that you may use it as if you were sitting in front of it. In order to use this system, you must make arrangements with your resident IT-Client Services support team prior to leaving.
