WiFi security: If I use my laptop at Starbucks (free wifi) will somebody?

Question

be able to see which sites I visited and what passwords I used to get there? If yes, Who? (i'm a little paranoidal about this)

Answer 1

Okay you need to look into WiFi encryption. Upfront the WEP encryption is pre-historic. It has 64 and 128 bit encryption which has been hacked. A couple years ago Microsoft released support for newer WPA encryption and also for pocket pc computers which access WiFi 802.11 b/g which goes to 256 bit encryption.

To try and really crash course you in such a short answer is to simply - "NO !!!" - DO NOT log onto the network without WPA and make sure their network supports that. It is currently in the news about 41 percent of USA businesses are still using antiquidated WEP 64/128 bit or none at all ! I mean it is your life and your laptop and no need to feel polite about your personal information or finances especially with the wireless internet - WiFi. Hacking WEP is easy enough and is like having no firewall at all. There are plenty of these antique WEP products around and again no need to feel polite with anyone about that.

So you want to go to www.Microsoft.com and look up WEP and WPA encryption. If you have an older laptop, most likely you insert a wireless wi-fi modem card or NIC or adaptor (all same thing). You will need at least Windows XP SP2 and run Windows Update to get the WPA support for networks. If you have an older WEP "card" (wireless modem you insert in slot) throw it in the trash - literally - because it has been worthless for well over a year or two. All newer laptops are selling shipped with the new WPA cards or NICs or Adaptors - whatever you wish to call them. So get your machine up to speed and then ask before logging on if WPA is supported. If not simply say "No Thanks".

Next you will also want a firewall with support for laptop. You can slap on the 20 dollar McAfee wireless utility that guards the wireless connection to the network keeping out intruders and piggy-backers on the signal (wireless transmission). Trend Micro has the firewall with four different settings including laptop wirelesss home network or public wireless along with 2 normal firewall settings. I am using that right now on a notebook and you can get the thirty day free trial to try that out - Trend Micro Internet Security Suite 2008. For info - they have achieved the coveted VB100 Award for their antivirus and their antispyware has een continually rated as tops in the top 3 for years with Webroot Spysweeper and Counterspy. So it is top of the line.

And again, unless you have paid security software in place that activates real time protection including a firewall, antivirus, and antispyware - you will be dead in the water promptly. Crimeware today is specifically designed in the greatest "fleecing of america" you have ever seen. Look up bots, botnets, botherders, zombie computers, zombie networks just for a few. This did not exist a few years ago when things were in the simple adware craze days. Today there is an entire underground network that is documented as larger than any mob ever heard of. The ID Theft and financial losses are in the billions !!! This is no joke and certainly not "snake oil" (worthless false products for a buck). My personal crusade is in the way of community help at my personal website which has passed 4 million hits - the now popular bluecollarpc.net /.org which I am webmaster of since launch in 2005. If you stop in - there you will find many information links that will steer you in the right direction of computer security.

RECAP: Get your machine (computer) up to speed with WPA support and a newer WPA Compliance NIC (Adaptor) card - which in newer laptops is most likely built in. Make sure you have the big three - firewall, antivirus, antispyware. DON'T listen to anyone telling you to use free security software because they do not have real time protection. It is the same as having nothing and are called "reactive" rather than "proactive". Reactive because they scan after the fact which there are now 'security software disabling trojans' that deny the user to access the free software to scan and retrieving defintion updates. That is only one example of why paid software is needed to block the installation of these malwares (viruses, trojans, worms, adware, spyware). This is all mentioned because a hacker can take total control of your computer over an unsecured connection in a wireless network (wi-fi).

Get smart and protected - not burnt. Best 2 U....

webmaster bluecollarpc.net/.org

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

It's always possible, but the chances of that happening are very, very unlikely. The person has to be quite the computer geek to do it, and will probably need to have access to the Router's configurations.

You should be fine - especially since it's your own computer. I don't have any hesitations using my own computer in a public location to do things like banking, etc... I do it all the time when I am in a setting like that.

Answer 4

I wouldn't worry too much about it provided you're just surfin'. I would specifically avoid banking and shopping where you would be sending passwords and credit card numbers over a public network.

Answer 5

If you are using a newer laptop that is running vista, in wireless settings choose that the location is public and it will block other computers from viewing whats on your computer, on older computers just make sure all file sharing is off. apple im not sure about but it probalby like windows vista

Answer 6

there is programs that can be used to intercept every single packet that your computer sends out and it can translate it into text. I have done this at my school where you can read peoples msn convos from your own computer as long as they are on the same network.

Answer 7

As long as the router uses WPA2 encryption, you should be OK... but really, any data sent wirelessly can be intercepted, which is where the encryption comes in. Make sure it's WPA2, otherwise it can be easily cracked.