Using Unsecured Wireless : Security Questions

[lagvoid]

I'm currently using the wireless network provided by my university. It is unsecured and I'm wondering how secure this is. I tried a few searches and realize the vulnerabilities for the network itself, but what about the users?

I saw one similar post with only one reply, so I wanted to get a more current opinion.

Filesharing is off and I am using sygate personal firewall + trend pc virus protection.

thanks

 

[Viper GTS]

Short answer? Not very.

I can't believe a university is providing unsecured wireless. That is inexcusable.

Viper GTS

 

[Reel]

You are never totally secure no matter what. With that said, anyone can monitor the airwaves and intercept packets, encrypted or not. If it is insecure, then they don't have to spend the effort to decrypt it. As a precaution, don't type your password on sites that are plain text if you care about keeping it private. However, I think the likelihood of someone caring about your data in a large university environment is low.

 

[Platypus]

lol, what university is this? 😛

 

[TygGer]

Regardless of what university this is, a lot of places offer "free wireless internet" like Panera Bread, various coffee shops and even gas stations.

What risks do we face by using these un-secured networks?

For instance, if I log into Anandtech, e-mail, Ebay, Paypal, etc, will my user IDs and passwords be compromised?

Could/would my whole pc be compromised?

 

[aiex]

Originally posted by: TygGer
Regardless of what university this is, a lot of places offer "free wireless internet" like Panera Bread, various coffee shops and even gas stations.

What risks do we face by using these un-secured networks?

For instance, if I log into Anandtech, e-mail, Ebay, Paypal, etc, will my user IDs and passwords be compromised?

Could/would my whole pc be compromised?

Unencrypted sites = they can read everything - all your passwords
Encrypted sites = more secure, but vulnerable to DNS / ARP redirection attacks.

If i were you i would never use an unsecure public wireless accesspoint for anything that would make you cry if somebody found out the password. You just kinda have to trust that nobody will want to use any passwords they find. Who really wants to post as you on AT???? hmm maybe a bad question...

 

[TygGer]

Originally posted by: aiex

Originally posted by: TygGer
Regardless of what university this is, a lot of places offer "free wireless internet" like Panera Bread, various coffee shops and even gas stations.

What risks do we face by using these un-secured networks?

For instance, if I log into Anandtech, e-mail, Ebay, Paypal, etc, will my user IDs and passwords be compromised?

Could/would my whole pc be compromised?

Unencrypted sites = they can read everything - all your passwords
Encrypted sites = more secure, but vulnerable to DNS / ARP redirection attacks.

If i were you i would never use an unsecure public wireless accesspoint for anything that would make you cry if somebody found out the password. You just kinda have to trust that nobody will want to use any passwords they find. Who really wants to post as you on AT???? hmm maybe a bad question...

LOL. That was just hypothectical. Would I be vulnerable to just people close to me in the wireless network range or anyone on the internet?

If it's important and I have to use an un-secured network, I should atleast make sure the site is encrypted?

And unsecured network plus unencrypted site = bad news. ????

thx

 

[woowoo]

Originally posted by: lagvoid
It is unsecured and I'm wondering how secure this is.

Just think about that over and over......