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    Free Internet Access!; Free WiFi; Internet Access;

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by Guest, Jun 13, 2007.

  1. Guest

    Guest Notebook Evangelist

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    What is the real danger of accessing these set-up networks?

    Lets say your at a place where Wi-Fi internet is available (Coffee Shop), and when you see the available wireless networks, Coffee Shop is the one that is provided, yet Free Internet Access, Free Wifi etc. show up.
    What's the real danger in access the "Free Internet Access" network? I know it would be dumb to do banking or even email, but what about reading the newspaper online, or playing games? Whats the threat in accessing these networks?
     
    Guest, Jun 13, 2007
    #1
  2. Gintoki

    Gintoki Notebook Prophet

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    Theres not really all that much danger if you protect yourself properly. I personally would stay away unless i had a good firewall. And maybe Linux just to be safe.
     
    Gintoki, Jun 13, 2007
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  3. bob1182006

    bob1182006 Notebook Evangelist

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    Usually those unkown free wifi/internet access points are put up by hackers that that have a packet sniffer in order to find CC #'s and passwords, if all you do is read the newspaper I dont think there'd be a problem.
    Also if you play games I doubt it'd happen but maybe they play the game you play and hack your character?
     
    bob1182006, Jun 13, 2007
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  4. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    I've found they're usually put up by the way Windows looks for other networks. If people have connected to those networks before, their computers scan for them, and then try to create an ad-hoc network. You can rarely connect to the networks, even if you try.

    Generally, not much danger. Just don't keep those network names in your allowed network list, and you'll have to manually connect to them.
     
    Pitabred, Jun 14, 2007
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  5. Sykotic

    Sykotic Notebook Evangelist

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    Any public hotspot is a unsecure connection and yes packet sniffing does occur. I wont check my regular email or do anything other than just surf from a public unprotected hotspot.
     
    Sykotic, Jun 14, 2007
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  6. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    You use SSL, and packet sniffing won't matter on an insecure network. I check my regular email all the time since I only use IMAP over SSL (standard IMAP doesn't even get tunneled through my firewall), or an https webmail server. Even hotmail lets you connect via an SSL connection. Most ISP's and other mail hosts should as well.
     
    Pitabred, Jun 14, 2007
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  7. LFC

    LFC Ex-NBR

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    Well many coffee shops and other stores offer the "free" wi-fi for paying customers. You have been warned ;)
     
    LFC, Jun 14, 2007
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