Is Public Wi-Fi Access Safe?

By: Bob Rankin
Submitted: 2007-01-17 15:50:42
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Surfing Safely in Starbucks...

A few months ago I met with a group of Internet professionals, all of us sporting laptops with wireless connections to the hotel's access point. On the second day of the conference, one of the attendees put up a slide on the overhead showing logins and passwords from a dozen of the attendees. Needless to say, many jaws dropped open.

He was running a "sniffer" program that anyone can download to spy on the internet traffic floating around in the air. Fortunately, he was a trusted colleague, and was nice enough to tell us that we were caught with our virtual pants down.

Wifi Safety Tips

First, be aware that (almost) ANYTHING that you type or any info that appears on your screen while you're using a wireless connection can be seen by others nearby. If you are accessing a page that requires a login and password, or if you are entering ANY personal data (credit card, SSN, etc) make sure that you are on a secure site. That's easy enough -- just check that the web address begins with https instead of the usual http -- and your information will be safely encrypted before transmission. As long as you're on a page with an address that begins with https, the data you send and receive is protected from sniffers and snoopers.

But be on your guard, some web-based email providers have a secure login page, but after you're logged in the access reverts to normal non-encrypted mode. So any email you send or receive while on a wireless connection is out in the clear. Google's GMail and Yahoo Mail are examples of webmail services that work this way. Until recently Hotmail didn't even offer a secure login option. So look for the link or checkbox for the secure login when accessing your web-based email. If your service doesn't offer one, consider switching or decide to live with the security exposure.

Oh, and there are the "shoulder surfers" to watch out for. Just like when you're entering your PIN code at an ATM, you need to keep an eye open for anyone who might be glancing over your shoulder while you hunt and peck in the airport or coffeeshop. I always use two fingers when entering my pin or password... one presses the correct key and other is a decoy. So even if someone was watching from across the street with binoculars, it's almost impossible to steal a password.

And beware of the Evil Twins! The Internet Patrol warns of a scam where a hacker may put up a bogus copy of the wi-fi hotspot's login page. Learn how to stay safe from this attack by reading this helpful article: http://www.aunty-spam.com/wifi-hotspot-evil-twins-mimic-wi-fi-hotspots-and-steal-your-data

Securing Your Wireless HOME Network

Do you have a wireless laptop and router at home? You may be providing free internet access to your neighbors, or opening your system to drive-by hackers. Don't miss my article on securing your wireless home network, here: http://www.askbobrankin.com/wireless_security.html

BOB RANKIN... is a tech writer and computer programmer who enjoys exploring the Internet and sharing the fruit of his experience with others. His work has appeared in ComputerWorld, NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is publisher of the Internet TOURBUS newsletter, author of several computer books, and creator of the http://LowfatLinux.com website. Visit Bob Rankin's website for more helpful articles and free tech support.

Article source: Expert Articles