WiFi, how safe/secure is it?

[skijay]

I have a laptop and discovered that the building I am in has two WiFi signals I can pick up. One is low and I can not seem to load a page and the other has a splash page for the service provider where you need to open an account. Before I do this I have some questions about safety.

Here at home I have a Motorola SBG900 modem/wireless router that three computers connect via WiFi "G". The modem has a built in "commercial grade" firewall. All of the computers all have Firewall / Virus software, updated automatically, I have the WEP code / shared key for the "secured wireless network" at my home.

While at work I can connect to the service provider's page. My network connection says "unsecured wireless network". If I subscribe to their service is my data safe such as login ID / passwords? I heard that other people can interecept the information being transmitted?

I do not know to much about using WiFi outside of my home. Oh, the company that offers the WiFi service is called SpotOn www.spotonnetworks.com/index.html

 

[Greg]

I'm not a security expert, but any passwords passed in clear text could be sniffed regardless of the transmission media (wired or wireless). I would imagine it's easier to do on an unencrypted wireless network however...

 

[skijay]

I am surfing using my laptop & this building's WiFi on a paid basis. The signal is good. I do not have any sensitive infomation on this computer so I decided to try it out.

It is interesting to see my IP address change throughout the day.

 

[dmc]

Use encryption and everything is OK...

I'm on a wireless network at a hotel now - totally open... I've already sscaned the network and found a bunch f people logged in with security vunerlbilites...

 

[MichaelJ]

Two things to do...
One is make sure your laptop is running a firewall and not running any unnecessary services. When you're on anyone else's wireless network, encrypted or not.

When you're on an open wireless network, just make sure that anything sensitive you do over your web browser uses SSL (in other words, uses addresses beginning with https These are encrypted, and quite well. If you read your email using IMAP, look for IMAP over SSL possibilities with your service provider, or for TLS.

It can be done; I often do both personal and job work from my laptop on the open network at the local Panera shop. You just have to remember to limit the number of "open" things you do.

 

[skijay]

Thanks for the feedback. I do have a firewall installed and only run the web browser.

 

[skijay]

I was having my car serviced today and since I was going to have to wait for it, I would bring my laptop. I noticed 3 unsecured wireless netwoks. Two of them had a splash page asking to subscribe or log in. The other was from a local hotel that offers free wi-fi to its guests. I did not realize it was the hotel, I thought the dealership had wi-fi

I connected to that network and surfed, no logging into to any sites, I just browsed.

If a network is available and unsecure and you connect to it is it legal?

 

[loafer89]

Does the security issue apply to smartphones as well? I use my Verizon alot when I am on the go to check my E-mails and go on the web.

 

[bvibert]

If a network is available and unsecure and you connect to it is it legal?

Legally I don't know, but I don't see a problem with it. If they didn't want random people using it then they should setup a system that prevents it..