Using an Unsecured Wireless Network
Wednesday January 4, 2006
| Commentary | A reader recently asked about the risks of using open public WiFi hotspots. These links show as "unsecured wireless connections" on your Windows laptop. Is it safe to use your credit card over such connections? Are there any precautions to take to make your connection more secure?
When using an https:// connection through your Web browser, your personal information is protected, even on otherwise insecure connections. This is generally considered strong enough network security to have when sending your credit card number, for example. At a public hotspot, the greater risk is usually someone situated behind you able to see the numbers you type.
When using an https:// connection through your Web browser, your personal information is protected, even on otherwise insecure connections. This is generally considered strong enough network security to have when sending your credit card number, for example. At a public hotspot, the greater risk is usually someone situated behind you able to see the numbers you type.
Another security risk on public hotpots involves other computers also connected to this unsecured network. Network attacks can be made through them, by connecting to your computer and possibly downloading information from your hard drive.
People address this latter problem by running a firewall program on their computer. Firewalls guard against these incoming attackers. It is additional considered good practice not to stay connected to unsecured networks for too long of a time to become an attack target. You should always run a good firewall program whenever connected to a "unsecured wireless network" and disconnect when not using your link.
Comments
if i m travelling and using unsecured wireless n/w e.g airport wireless..is there any possibility to hack my laptops data…my confidential information and if yes how do I avoid it..by applying some settings on my laptop..
Chetan, follow the above directions in the article. Install a firewall program, often these are included with antivirus software like McAfee (preferred) or Norton.
wherever i go my laptop finds a wireless network fortunately. I use it. One day i tried to find the system and whether i can access any data. But i could not able to. Maximum, i have found IP of the router. For the owner it is bandwidth problem. Nothing else right? I strongly believe that we cannot access data in their system. Let me know if i am wrong
Can accessing IM’s over such unsecured networks compromise on the privacy of the contents of the Chat/ video?.
Thanks..
Is there a way of finding out if someone is sneaking in on our home network.
Would they leave a trail or telltale signs of being there?
We use Verizon.
Yes you can, but that’s getting pretty technical. If you do a lot of reading and try and fail you can use a program called snort. it’s completely free but not necessarily for the faint of heart, but when used correctly can tell you exactly what’s coming in and out of your computer, and when you use filters it can tell you exactly what should and shouldn’t be going in and out.
@MLF
You can catch them in the act by going to your router settings(check on the box for default url)then navigate your way to DHCP Client List and this will show the name and IP of any computers that are using the wireless connection.
Good luck
Mentioned earlier is a program (”snort”) which shows what is currently going in and out of your computer.
Well, is there a way to tell a HISTORY of such activity - that is, what stuff has been retrieved in the past via another computer stealing from yours?