Do I have a problem with wireless security?

WestieFan

I have pc and laptop, connected wirelessly.
I use IE on the pc and Firefox on the lappy. Recently, when using the laptop, I have been getting messages whenever I am accessing a website or logging on to this one, for example, saying that I am about to send information over an unencrypted connection and that a third party could get the information.
I thought my wireless connection was pretty secure, so does anybody know what this is all about? I don't get it when I browse using IE on the lappy.

albertross_2

That sounds like a Firefox issue, rather than wireless.. What is the exact message?

What wireless security have you setup?

WestieFan

It says "The information you have entered is to be sent over an unencrypted connection and could easily be read by a third party
Are you sure you want to continue sending this information?"

A tick box underneath with the words "Alert me whenever I submit information that's not encrypted" (it is already ticked).

To be honest, I can't remember how I set up my network, only that it took me a whole weekend and I had terrible trouble with it! My connection does say it is secure, unlike those of my neighbours! Maybe I have set it up all wrong. ~Worried now~

ps message also comes up when I click 'submit reply' on this site

albertross_2

just remove the tick from the tickbox.

WestieFan

Am I secure enough then do you think, or should I maybe try and find a way of having the info encrypted in future?

albertross_2

I think you are mixing two things up, there is the connection between your router and the website, which is insecure by default (unless you have the https url / closed padlock you see on shopping and bank sites)

And there is the wireless connection between your laptop and your router.

I suspect the message is about the former, not the latter.

This is how to make it secure on a netgear, the principles apply to other routers.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=2471408&postcount=37

the most important bits are use wpa-psk with a long random 63 character key, and disable the ssid broadcasting.

WestieFan

Many thanks Albertross, I think I get it now. We get a similar message at work sometimes it just rang a bell there.

I will check your link, thanks for that, that wireless thread is quite scary to read through. I thought it might be something to do with Firefox as I have just started using it and am not too familar yet with all its wee ways.

Thanks again for quick replies, putting my mind at rest and I will look at the security again tomorrow when my head is clearer!

Chippy_Minton

The warning is saying that the information being sent to you is encrypted, whereas the information you are sending is not.

Nice article about secure and insecure web pages: Submitting secure encrypted data into a web page.