WiFi security

Gaffer

Well-known member
What are the risks of using public WiFi compared to an aircard? As in the RV park where a password is required.
PJ
 

danemayer

Well-known member
Using a public wifi network increases a couple of risks:


  1. When you connect to the public hotspot, you don't really know if it's one run by the campground. Anyone in or near the campground can easily create a hotspot with a similar name and similar sign-in procedure. They can view every byte you send and receive. Some of your transmissions may be encrypted by your browser, but others may be sent in the clear. You could be redirected from your secure target website to an insecure site that looks the same. If that happens, what you think is encrypted will actually be in the clear.
  2. When connected to a shared hotspot, others may have a software sniffer that examines your transmissions. It's not as easy as in the first scenario, but it's still possible. I don't think they could redirect you to compromise browser encryption.
  3. When connected to a shared hotspot, if your operating system security is not set properly, or if you select work or home instead of public network when prompted, you may give access to your hard file without realizing it. Once that happens, they own you.

These risks can also exist with a MiFi device or tethering from your smartphone, but the level of risk depends on how tough your security is.

The data connection to your carrier's cell data network via jetpack or aircard is much more secure.
 

TandT

Founding Utah Chapter Leaders-Retired
PJ,
We have an AT&T 4G phone with a hotspot, but I use free wifi when it is available to save my data useage.

I don't do any banking, or anything else that requires passwords, or credit card info on a wifi.
I also don't store any passwords, or account info. on my computer.

The only thing I have noticed is I do get a little spam when I am on wifi. Trace
 
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3Gstore

Well-known member
If you need secure access off a public hotspot you'd want to have a router at your home/office that supports PPTP (Point to Point Tunneling). This creates a secure connection between your main ISP and the public network, which is encrypted allowing you to surf securely. I did a quick demo of PPTP here - http://youtu.be/4kUhloCVNbY
 

evolvingpowercat

Well-known member
I work for Sprint and yes, Mobile Broadband over 3G or LTE from a carrier is the most secure. It is totally encrypted between your carrier provided modem and the Internet. If you use a Mobile Broadband WiFi hot spot, be sure to use the strongest encryption mode it offers, usually WPA2 is the strongest unless your computer can't support then use WPA, WEP is pretty weak don't use it if you have a choice. Pick a LONG password for it (at least 9 characters) with lower case, upper case, and numbers. Hacker tools can try all the short passwords up to 8 characters long one by one and will try all the "simple" ones first. If you use a 9 character WiFi password, your chances of being compromised is near zero.

If you use public WiFi or a private WiFi with password from a campground, MickeyD, Starbucks, etc...

What web sites you are using can be monitored. Your in/out email can be monitored, UNLESS:

If you use the web and see a web link that says https at the beginning of it, your data in both directions are being encrypted and even if others intercept the packets on the wifi they won't be able to use them for anything, other than being able to tell what web sites you are surfing to. Most anything related to credit cards, banking, ordering on line uses SSL, indicated by the https in the URL. Now, even things like google are able to be used with SSL use so that people can't see your searches and search results. Try typing https:// in front of the site you are using, for example: https://google.com, often it will still work in the encrypted mode.

If a hot spot has a password that means that only those that have the password can monitor your packets. In other words, still not very secure. Unless the campground changes the password very often. Anyone with a laptop and some hacker tools in range of the WiFi can sniff your packets, but the ones with SSL use powerful encryption that takes super computers to break, like what the US government has.

For your emails, you can also set your email client to use SSL (secure socket layer) for both send and receive and then your email will also be encrypted as well. Check with your provider for how to make your mail encrypted, it varies by provider.
 

vakthund

Well-known member
Using public WiFi is slightly less secure than using your aircard. Anyone can download simple and free software to snoop on your wifi connection but it is a little more complicated and and requires equipment not readily available at Walmart to snoop on you cellular connection.
Since you are concerned about security you should not trust either. As has been pointed out use browser encryption (HTTPS) and if you get a warning on your screen when you connect read it and understand it before clicking OK.
The wifi password is for the most part meaningless. It is not there for your security but rather for the campground to stop non-guests from using the wifi network. It provides little additional security for you.
 

FordMan1966

Well-known member
I have and will probably continue using the free wifi at Campgrounds, but I recently changed Cell Phone Carriers to Verizon and I can now use my Razr Maxx as a Hot Spot.
 

evolvingpowercat

Well-known member
I am comfortabe with hotel campground etc. shared wifi just keep in mind that what you do that is not encrypted with SSL i.e. encrypted email using SSL or web surfing using SSL (web host names start with https://) can be monitored. If someone wants to see what I surf on the web like facebook and youtube they can knock themselves out wasting their time doing it.
 
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