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Is WIFI secure?

O

old growler

Newbie
Hi folks - I've ordered my new 'HTC Desire' and plan to use the WIFI feature where possible, to help keep the data use down (I only have 500mb per month). However is it secure to use random 'unlocked' WIFI out and about, or should I avoid this for security reasons?

Thanks.
 
old growler said:
Hi folks - I've ordered my new 'HTC Desire' and plan to use the WIFI feature where possible, to help keep the data use down (I only have 500mb per month). However is it secure to use random 'unlocked' WIFI out and about, or should I avoid this for security reasons?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Of course random, unsecured WiFi hotspots are not secure.

Don't send any identifying data when.connected. don't internet bank. Normal.browsing should.be.fine though.
 
So is there no 'anti-virus/protection' for mobiles then? I thought there would be some sort of protection by now! (as you can tell, I'm not very technical minded!!)
 
There are real viruses for Android, yet. Being as it's Linux based as well it has a certain resistance to virus attacks.
 
Its not the viruses you have to worry about, in unencrypted data traveling over unsecured airspace.
 
Just use your home wifi to do anything that involves transmitting personal data.

Replying to geoff's email to say you're in starbucks but will at the dog and boot by 7 is perfectly fine.
 
I see, so people won't be able to 'hack in' to my phone using unsecure wifi - just intercept data sent - ie emails, bank details that sort of thing?
 
old growler said:
I see, so people won't be able to 'hack in' to my phone using unsecure wifi - just intercept data sent - ie emails, bank details that sort of thing?
Click to expand...

So long as you don't use SSH, you should be fine. The data that you send can be intercepted, so don't download/upload anything private.
 
If you're just logging into a website or so you'll be fine but just don't enter anything too personal (bank information, your address, passwords, etc). I'm a little weary about my information even on my home network :S
 
If you need to use public wifi, look for BT Openzones or similar which encrypt data over a secure connection.
 
I recently went on holiday to USA and both my wife and I took our Androids, given that data roaming is so expensive we used Wi-Fi hotspots.

Being paranoid I changed our passowrds to our google accounts before we left and then changed them back when we came home.

I am curious to know if there is actually a risk of someone hacking your google account if you use our andriod phone on an unsecured Wi-Fi?

Cheers

Baz
 
Baz8755 said:
I recently went on holiday to USA and both my wife and I took our Androids, given that data roaming is so expensive we used Wi-Fi hotspots.

Being paranoid I changed our passowrds to our google accounts before we left and then changed them back when we came home.

I am curious to know if there is actually a risk of someone hacking your google account if you use our andriod phone on an unsecured Wi-Fi?

Cheers

Baz
Click to expand...

Well your phone is already logged in, so its not transmitting the password back and forth, unless you log out and log back in again.
 
SUroot said:
Well your phone is already logged in, so its not transmitting the password back and forth, unless you log out and log back in again.
Click to expand...


So whenever I check emails my login information is not being sent then ?

Only my googlemail password, for example, could give access to a lot of other things (including google checkout, which has cc details, etc) so I really wouldn't want to rsik it being picked up.
 
Even encrypted wifi should not be used for anything sensitive, Someone in the know and with the rick skills can hack in easy. I check around the neighborhood about once a week and on average find about 5 open insecure WiFi connections available.
 
Most banks employ SSL for HTTP connections, so I would imagine that their bank apps would employ similar techniques.

Once an https/SSL connection is established, your bank username and password and information are encrypted before sending thus are pretty secured, even on public networks. They are not transmitted as clear text.

Try open a webpage on gmail.com or chase.com or bankofamerica.com or most any other bank, and you'll see the https URL's.

Note that yahoo Mail does not use https. One more reason to dump Yahoo Mail for GMail!
 
SSL is fine when a connection is made. The problem with public wifi is anyone on the network can intercept your data before it hits the access point. That means a hacker on the same network can use man in the middle attack and intercept your SSL connection request and pretend to be you connecting to the server.
 
if you go on a unsecured Wi-Fi, unless it's for browsing the internet without send sensitive data, i wouldn't do it myself,
even in a Starbucks or a public cafe that you have access free, they were info about those open spot that a IT thief can intercept those data and use it
 
As a general rule of thumb, don't do anything that involves important private information on unsecured networks. Its not like there will be a data thief at every Starbucks, so don't freak out if you accidentally do. But only do it if you absolutely NEED to.
 
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