Wi Fi in Public Places How Do I Be Safe ?

xxxdarlingxxx

Hi there

I am going away and the resort has free Wi Fi access.

How easy is it to connect to, I use wireless at home ?

I have WPSK security set at home and MAC filtering on my Router. How can I set up the holiday connection to be safe ?

I have Vista home Premium, Norton & IE 7

isofa

It can never be truly safe as you just don't know who's monitoring the data, how it's set-up etc. I'd certainly not be using it for on-line banking or anything with critical security - you should never use public wi-fi for anything which needs high security.

You can't alter the settings on their equipment so the safety aspect isn't really that much in your control, MAC filtering etc, just won't exist, as they need to let people come in and "roam" with any laptop on their wi-fi network.

The access to it depends on how it's set up, most abroad use the weaker WEP at hotels, you'll enter the key, or gain access via a hotel webpage, which confirms who you are / room number etc.

xxxdarlingxxx

I wouldn't use it for anything except picking up mail & checking weather / travel web pages. I was a bit worried someone could see into my files & folders.

kwikbreaks

xxxdarlingxxx wrote: »

II was a bit worried someone could see into my files & folders.

Make sure none are set as shared then. Better still offload anything you regard as confidential and leave it at home - there is probably more chance somebody will pinch your laptop than try to peek into your documents.

TimothyEBaldwin

Most public hotspots do not provide encryption, except TLS/SSL (https) on the login webpage. Some free semi-public hotspots use WEP or WPA-PSK, but only use a single key - which a malicious person may have.

WPA-Enterprise is secure if each client is given a private subnet (to prevent ARP spoofing), and you verify the identity and trustworthiness of the access point. A TLS secured login webpage is not evidence of the identity of the access point.

If the connection to the server is encrypted with TLS, such as online banking websites all an attacker will be able to find out is how much data is being sent to where and when. They will know if you are doing online banking, and with which bank. Similarly with VPNs (Virtual Private Networks).

You need a good firewall on your system as your wireless router is no longer performing that role.

theartfullodger

You can't ever be "safe" entirely. Either wireless or t'InterWeb or email..

You can just take steps to reduce exposure & minimise damage when some b***ard does get in... e.g. don't keep all your money in one internet-only account, do backups of your data etc etc,

Join the club!

Cheers!

Lodger

[Deleted User]

xxxdarlingxxx wrote: »

How easy is it to connect to

It's as easy as it is at home. Search for the name of the wireless network, double click, that's it.

xxxdarlingxxx wrote: »

I have WPSK security set at home and MAC filtering on my Router. How can I set up the holiday connection to be safe ?

You can't. This is set up on the router. You then set your PC to use the same. As the router isn't yours on holiday you'll have to go with the flow of it not being secured (more than likely).

xxxdarlingxxx wrote: »

I have Vista home Premium, Norton & IE 7

What you need to do is ensure you've got Vista's firewall turned on. Nothing more.