Cruising America's Great Loop and other inland routes
View all threadsWhen you connect to a wifi signal, it makes utterly no difference at all if
it is password protected or not. None. That password will prevent
"unauthorized" users from logging on but it offers no security to folks
using it.
It is quite simple to broadcast your own wifi signal and if you like, you
can password protect it. And of course that hacker will use the same
password on his "fake" connection as is on the real one, to make it a
convincing fake. He can find out what that password is, the same way you
do. Just ask at the front desk and they happily tell you.
Once you are connected to a wifi network, everything you type can be seen
by whomever you are connected to. Even if you use the computer in the
marina office, you can be recorded.
There are programs called key stroke recorders. And there are recorder
programs that record everything your remote wifi users type. You can
download those programs for free from hacker websites.
The bottom line: Wifi is NEVER secure, not ever. John Gill, I'm sorry
if I offended you, but the facts remain.
What probably is secure is a Verizon aircard, or anything that connects
directly to the cellphone system. And even then, there can be folks
working there who could record what you do. It can be amazing what goes on
in data centers late at night after the boss goes home. I have actually
experienced this myself, but it is extremely rare for this to happen.
That guy sitting in the Residence Inn was me, except I was out in a car
where you couldn't see me .... and it was actually a Day's Inn. Yes I
actually did this, a hacker friend showed me how. I can record what you
do on wifi and it's so simple, it's almost silly. Anybody that doubts me
is welcome to come overnight at my dock and I'll give you the password for
my wifi. And the next morning I'll give you a log of everything you did,
including the password and username on your bank account.
Wifi is never secure, regardless of whether it is password protected or
not. Cellphone companies' broadband is generally secure, but there have
been exceptions.
Fred
Tug 44
From: "John & Judy Gill" jjgill@twojscom.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 4:39 PM
To: "davidsorenson" davidsorenson625@gmail.com
Subject: Re: GL: Wi-fi Internet on a Boat
x--- snip ---x
The important thing to remember is to NEVER use "free WiFi" unless the
system has "Password Protection". We have seen a "hacker" clone a
Residence Inn WiFi site and then sit in the coffee/breakfast room and wait
for Inn residence to log in and then steal their identity. According to
our business computer consultant, there is no "firewall" that can prevent
the hacker from gaining access to your computer if you "Leave Your Door
Unlocked and Open"
John
Sorry, Fred, but WiFi IS secure if you use a VPN and encryption.
Otherwise, it's not.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina
MV Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base
DeFever 41 Trawler Melbourne, Florida
Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog
Web: http://cruising.mvsanderling.net/
On 4/24/2013 7:52 PM, fred@tug44.org wrote:
The bottom line: Wifi is NEVER secure, not ever.
Here is some good advice. NEVER have sensitive financial, banking, or
personal information on a mobile device or mobile computer you might use out
in public place. Hackers may get into my iphone or laptop, but there is
nothing sensitive on mine for them to steal. All that stuff is on the home
system which has multiple layers of security.
David Sorenson
Duluth, MN