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    How secure are free wireless networks?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by titaniummd, Apr 25, 2006.

  1. titaniummd

    titaniummd Notebook Deity

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    Many hotels have free wireless networks now. As does some McDonald's and Panera Bread restaurants.

    How secure are free wireless networks at hotels? Can someone hack into a computer using WIFI? What program does someone use to protect his or herself?

    How do they 'sniff packets'? What do they use and how do you avoid the situation?

    Is a T mobile hotspot or Starbucks/Mall wireless network any safer?
     
    titaniummd, Apr 25, 2006
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  2. ttupa

    ttupa Tech Elitist NBR Reviewer

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    A good firewall will keep your computer safe at these places. They are typically open, though, so I don't know how "safe" they are without security.
     
    ttupa, Apr 25, 2006
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  3. xbox360dellxpsm140guy

    xbox360dellxpsm140guy Notebook Guru

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    I have Panda 2006 Antivirus with Wifi protection. I got it off Ebay for $7 bucks delivered. It detects IP addresses attempting to talk with your wifi card, and gives you their IP address and gives you the choice of allow/deny. I am sure there are more advanced programs out there, but with the IP info Panda gives you, you could turn the tables on a would be hacker in minutes. I would just use a program that requires IP info, and pop up a system message on the screen that would say '' I'm sorry, I believe you lost your way.''
     
    xbox360dellxpsm140guy, Apr 25, 2006
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  4. ttupa

    ttupa Tech Elitist NBR Reviewer

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    Zone Alarm (free and pro) and Norton (only pay) firewalls do that as well. I haven't tried any others.

    Firewalls can be very advanced if configured correctly. They can also give you a lot of info about what you are transmitting/receiving.

    These programs are a MUST for wireless connections. If you don't use one, you leave yourself MAJORLY open for attacks. The sad thing is, however, that most attacks would probably just be kids doing stupid things like swapping files with you. But I don't want to be the one to test that theory.
     
    ttupa, Apr 25, 2006
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  5. drumfu

    drumfu super modfu

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    Open wifi networks are not safe. You are logging onto someone else's network so you are at their mercy and the mercy of anybody on the LAN.

    The tool to protect yourself against this is a (software) firewall like the ones mentioned above.
     
    drumfu, Apr 25, 2006
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  6. jujube

    jujube Notebook Deity

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    I use PCCillin's and it does a good job protecting me from previous attempted intrusions. It allows you to scan and see who else is on the network. When I had Norton/Symantec my friend was able to get into my computer and shut it down!
     
    jujube, Apr 25, 2006
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