ladymc53
Canyon Lake, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 04/20/2007
View Profile
|
Question: If I use the c.g. WiFi and they say it's an unsecured connection, does that mean if I do banking over the internet that everyone can see what's going on in my banking information?
I have an aircard ($60/Mo.) that I'd like to transfer the # to an old cell phone for $10/mo. and eliminate the $60 charge because we're going to be at the c.g. for a very long time and I'd like to use their WiFi, but am unsure about the security risks. Help! Thanks!
Bill & Linda
Ladymc & Shuttlebird
2008 Silver Dodge Diesel Dually 3500 - "The Silver Bullet"
Towing 1998 35 ft. Newmar 5th wheel
20K Husky Hitch & Blue Ox Bedsaver
Handheld Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS AND Sat. in dash mounted GPS in the truck
READY TO ROLL!
|
brobox
Sunny SW. Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 11/18/2003
View Profile
|
Your online banking software is encrypted, very little chance that it could be hacked or that anybody can see your transactions.
Chuck
02 Travel Supreme, 2 street side slides
02 Jeep Liberty Toad
|
hwybnb
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 05/02/2001
View Profile
|
Internet transactions that involve sensitive information, like banking or credit card purchases, should always be done using a SSL secure link. With that kind of link everything that passes between your computer and the distant server is encrypted and safe. You will know you are using a SSL link if the url begins with "https" instead of "http". Your browser should also display a locked padlock symbol.
|
2oldman
WA
Senior Member
Joined: 04/15/2001
View Profile
 Offline
|
In reality, the odds of getting attacked by other WiFi users are so vanishingly small as to approach zero.
The hype over unsecured WiFi connections is vastly over-rated, particularly as all significant transactions happen over secure connections created when you log on to your bank.
|
G & G Shelton
North Central Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 11/16/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Security is such a thin term.
Anytime you use an internet connection (AND I MEAN ANYTIME) it could be sniffed for your information. BUT, the chances of someone doing it is slim to none.
SSL encryption does help, but is never a 100% guarantee that your information could not be obtained either. But again, it is not likely that someone is going to be sniffing for your information.
Now, this is not to scare anyone. It is the truth and one that no one ever talks about.
The good news is, you are relatively safe, even on an unsecured connection, that no one will get your information. It is not like everyone else who uses that connection will see your data automatically.
I have been a professional in the computer industry for 16 years and I still do my banking occasionally on unsecured connections.  I worked for a MAJOR cable provider for a couple of years and my job was to make sure the network had no holes. So technically, they paid me to hack their network. You would be surprised how easy it was. 
Do make sure that it is a "https" connection as hwybnb stated. And change your banking password occasionally (monthly) to a new non-dictionary word.
2007 Raptor 3712TS Toy Hauler
2008 F-450 Lariat W/ Lots-o-Options (Became mine on 2/22/2007)
|
|
|
chrisguld
Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 08/07/2004
View Profile
|
I have no problem doing my banking online at WiFi hotspots. My bank's website takes care of the security, not my method of connecting. Banking is safe no matter how you're connected (wired or wireless; secure or unsecure.) Clicking on unknown links is unsafe no matter how you're connected. It's not the connection, it's how you use it.
Your bank's website probably has plenty of information about how they handle security. Read it.
I wrote more in this article at WiFi Savvy
There's no such thing as 100% safe. The Internet involves some risk regardless of how you connect. For informed users, I think it's a very acceptable level of risk in exchange for all that the Web has to offer.
Chris Guld
"Blessed are the Flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape!"
Full time in our 30' Safari Class C with Datastorm
See our weblog/travelog, at GeeksOnTour.Blogspot.com
RV.net Blogger
|
hwybnb
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 05/02/2001
View Profile
|
G & G Shelton wrote:
Anytime you use an internet connection (AND I MEAN ANYTIME) it could be sniffed for your information. ... they paid me to hack their network. You would be surprised how easy it was. Detecting the information by "sniffing" is one thing - breaking the encryption is something entirely different. If you are claiming that you can easily break 128-bit SSL I frankly don't believe it.
|
ladymc53
Canyon Lake, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 04/20/2007
View Profile
|
I feell like such an A**...of course - I know this...I was having a serious senior moment...sorry ya'll. The price of the aircard is $60/mo. The WiFi here is NOT free - $27.95/Mo (might as well say $30 or over with taxes), then $10/Mo. to put the aircard # on an old phone. So my savings will be $20/Mo. and I won't have mobility. Not worth the hassle of switching. Guess I'm keeping the aircard. It's actually pretty fast here - not like in Arkansas where we were rural. We're rural here, but I guess it's connecting faster cause a towere is closer. Thanks everyone!
|
G & G Shelton
North Central Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 11/16/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
hwybnb wrote:G & G Shelton wrote:
Anytime you use an internet connection (AND I MEAN ANYTIME) it could be sniffed for your information. ... they paid me to hack their network. You would be surprised how easy it was. Detecting the information by "sniffing" is one thing - breaking the encryption is something entirely different. If you are claiming that you can easily break 128-bit SSL I frankly don't believe it.
That makes me sad that you think that. I could prove it, but that would be illegal.
It can be and has been done. If you really want to know how, you can find the information written in plain English on the public internet.
There are sniffers out there that will log and show any and all passwords. Keep in mind that an SSL connection is not a VPN connection.
|
hwybnb
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 05/02/2001
View Profile
|
G & G Shelton wrote:
That makes me sad that you think that. I could prove it, but that would be illegal. ...If you really want to know how, you can find the information written in plain English on the public internet. Indeed. Reliable sources on the Internet confirm that 128-bit encryption is the minimum standard recommended to protect any financial transaction performed via the internet. According to Yankee Group estimates that the time it would take to break the encryption by brute force was 0.25 sextillion years. That was in 2005 so improved technology has no doubt shaved that down a bit but it will take way more than your lifespan.
If you are talking about using malicious software like keystroke loggers instead of breaking the encryption that is something else but there are protections against that.
I am not the least bit worried, so there is no need for you to feel sad for me.
|
|
|
