how secure are public wireless access points?

[Ender510]

i've heard that using any public wireless access like airport, tmobile, hotel, etc. is VERY unsecure meaning anyone with a basic packet sniffer can get all your information that you type in.

is this true??? i travel quite often and am in hotels and airports and use public wireless access points.. is it true that someone can easily sniff all the passwords/usernames, etc. that i type in?

thanks - please advise.

 

[shilala]

Yes, The Man is logging your porno habits for your permanent record.
You'll never get that government job.

 

[Pepsi90919]

*secure are

and i wouldn't consider any wireless network that secure.

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
*secure are

and i wouldn't consider any wireless network that secure.

<-- Slowly disconnects from Pepsi90919 wireless network!

 

[91TTZ]

If it was that secure, it would be called "private", not "public".

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
If it was that secure, it would be called "private", not "public".

:thumbsup:

Yes, it is unencrypted, and your packets are ripe for the picking for anyone with the know-how and a few minutes to kill.

 

[amol]

PUBLIC & WIRELESS

two dead giveaways

 

[intogamer]

jebus have you hear about drive by hackers?

 

[gopunk]

its not very secure, but if you use secure protocols then i think you're ok (https, ssh, sftp, etc)

 

[suse920]

k

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
*secure are

and i wouldn't consider any wireless network that secure.

<-- Slowly disconnects from Pepsi90919 wireless network!

keep sharing the beer tho

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
*secure are

and i wouldn't consider any wireless network that secure.

<-- Slowly disconnects from Pepsi90919 wireless network!

keep sharing the beer tho

How do you send :beer: over the network"

 

[brentman]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
*secure are

and i wouldn't consider any wireless network that secure.

<-- Slowly disconnects from Pepsi90919 wireless network!

keep sharing the beer tho

How do you send :beer: over the network"

I don't know, but if you figure it out.. ship some my way!

 

[spacelord]

I guess Faxing a beer is outdated now...

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: brentman

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
*secure are

and i wouldn't consider any wireless network that secure.

<-- Slowly disconnects from Pepsi90919 wireless network!

keep sharing the beer tho

How do you send :beer: over the network"

I don't know, but if you figure it out.. ship some my way!

Zim Hosein has managed to do it $zims_postcount times

 

[kranky]

Google on "evil twins" which is the up-and-coming problem with wireless networking.

 

[LordSnailz]

So if you still wanted to get one those public wireless AP, what are some of the best ways to protect yourself?

 

[Zanix]

wrong forum.


jk papa's got a brand new bag.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: LordSnailz
So if you still wanted to get one those public wireless AP, what are some of the best ways to protect yourself?

Having one in your house is a different situation than what the OP is talking about. He's talking about using a public WAP.

For home use, if you set up MAC filtering, enable WPA or WEP, and disable SSID broadcasting you'll be protected from 99.9% of the world.

 

[MrBond]

So if you still wanted to get one those public wireless AP, what are some of the best ways to protect yourself?

Don't use passwords, cc numbers, personal info. Just surf pages, don't order things, check bank statements, etc. Browse as if everything you're seeing/typing is projected on a large monitor for everyone in the same room to see.

 

[gigapet]

kinda like an out door patio with a mosquito screen. There is a door and you can get in that way. but you can also get in from any other side you want to also.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: MrBond

So if you still wanted to get one those public wireless AP, what are some of the best ways to protect yourself?

Don't use passwords, cc numbers, personal info. Just surf pages, don't order things, check bank statements, etc. Browse as if everything you're seeing/typing is projected on a large monitor for everyone in the same room to see.

:thumbsup:

 

[SparkyJJO]

well if it is "public" I'd assume it can't be super secure if people can get on easily like that

 

[Jfrag Teh Foul]

Originally posted by: Amol
PUBLIC & WIRELESS

two dead giveaways