dongle security help

ilikefreethings

am going to get a dongle so can get rid of phone line. the point is are dongles considered wifi? and if so is there any extra security i need to implement so 'outsiders' cant gain what sites etc ive been looking at?
need a bit of help please.

robt_2

No, a mobile broadband dongle is not (what most people mean by) wifi. You plug it into your computer, unless you also buy a mobile broadband router.

macman

A (mobile broadband) dongle is just the equivalent of connecting your computer to the internet using a mobile phone.
Do the sums before you ditch the fixed line, because the speed may be lower and the cost higher than you would have with ADSL broadband. Very much depends on your usage pattern, and whether you can get a decent 3G signal at your home.

epz_2

IMHO its best to get a payg dongle, the prices aint that different and ou dont risk owing the phone company £30,000 if things get out of hand as some people have found

robt_2

epz wrote: »

IMHO its best to get a payg dongle, the prices aint that different and ou dont risk owing the phone company £30,000 if things get out of hand as some people have found

Or you can just ask them to set your credit limit to £0.

epz_2

doesnt work, the billing systems arent real time it can take months for international phone charges to turn up

macman

epz wrote: »

doesnt work, the billing systems arent real time it can take months for international phone charges to turn up

I think the OP is just talking about using it at home in place of an ADSL broadband service?

robt_2

epz wrote: »

doesnt work, the billing systems arent real time it can take months for international phone charges to turn up

Read the OP. It is wanted to replace a phoneline. That suggests it is not going be used abroad, or even outside of the home.

And anyway, you can just ask for roaming to be disabled. It aint difficult, but you are making it seem to be.

epz_2

robt wrote: »

Read the OP. It is wanted to replace a phoneline. That suggests it is not going be used abroad, or even outside of the home.

And anyway, you can just ask for roaming to be disabled. It aint difficult, but you are making it seem to be.

I meant that you if you cant do real time billing then with data rates outside the tarrif of something like £4 a meg you could quickly end up with a bill with more zeroes than your phone number.

i would add the disclamer that is years since i worked for a telco but some poor sod did get caught out a year or so ago.