How safe are you

Den · Jul 11, 2011, 17:51:25

I went into a business / shop in Wrexham the other day and we were discussing mobile phones when I switched mine to search for wi-fi and imigine my surprise when I realised that their router was unprotected completely. Today on the phone I mentioned this and owner (my nephew) said he did not see the point in having a password and does not bother with the one in his home either. I asked if he did online banking and he said no, as he did not think it was safe.

Baz · Jul 11, 2011, 18:03:12

im protected but do sometimes see unprotected ones in my area,its the same ones all the time too

Steve · Jul 11, 2011, 18:08:31

All I see around me (unsecured) is the wretched BT Openzone

Niall · Jul 11, 2011, 20:41:00

Quote from: Den on Jul 11, 2011, 17:51:25
I went into a business / shop in Wrexham the other day and we were discussing mobile phones when I switched mine to search for wi-fi and imigine my surprise when I realised that their router was unprotected completely. Today on the phone I mentioned this and owner (my nephew) said he did not see the point in having a password and does not bother with the one in his home either. I asked if he did online banking and he said no, as he did not think it was safe.

Walk around the town from around the Wynstay, scanning for networks. It's ace. I had lots of free internet going out a few weeks ago. I was a couple of hours early, so I pinched someones wifi down the knags head, and then from the black horse pub, who have free wi-fi (I'm assuming deliberately as it's labelled with the pubs name - yet not advertised). A few businesses up the high street have insecure wi-fi but they do turn it off at the end of the work day it seems. Going past the student lodgings is where you get some joy too

Loads of silly people helping me get internet access when Vodafone don't give me a signal

Technical Ben · Jul 11, 2011, 21:23:55

Just as a warning Niall, one of the tricks that is going around is open wifi spots, and packet sniffing for banking details. Well, that's when "man in the middle" attacks are too much hard work.
All though, I doubt you do your banking on a free wifi router.

Niall · Jul 12, 2011, 07:42:22

I don't even do banking over wi-fi of any sort!

gizmo71 · Jul 12, 2011, 07:45:31

Banking over (unsecured or otherwise) WiFi isn't especially dangerous as long as the connection to the bank is HTTPS. Any bank not using HTTPS should be avoided like the plague!

Den · Jul 12, 2011, 08:41:56

I think banking on line is safer than using a card in a machine you have no control over. Just be sensable and make sure your computer is locked down properly and that you are using a bank with good security. I just can't understand someone knowingly not protecting his router and letting all and sundry have open access to it.
Mind you his father who is a close friend of mine can't understand what all the fuss over Anti-virus protection is all about and then complains when his computer at home plays up and he can't access the net.