Wi-Fi Security

[Phil]

I posted a similar question in the IE newsgroup, but so far no response.

I have a family member out-of-state who is on dsl and uses a wireless
router/modem. I have not had the time yet to encrypt her laptop and
router. I have advised her that until that is done that she should use the
ethernet wire connection to the modem if she is dealing with confidential
type matters.

My question is this: If she accesses a "secure" web page, that is to
say one with a padlock icon showing that it is secure, can she use that
page with some confidence over the wi-fi? Thanks.

 

[Chuck]

I posted a similar question in the IE newsgroup, but so far no response.

I have a family member out-of-state who is on dsl and uses a wireless
router/modem. I have not had the time yet to encrypt her laptop and
router. I have advised her that until that is done that she should use the
ethernet wire connection to the modem if she is dealing with confidential
type matters.

My question is this: If she accesses a "secure" web page, that is to
say one with a padlock icon showing that it is secure, can she use that
page with some confidence over the wi-fi? Thanks.

Phil,

Any "secure" web page is accessed using encryption. The conversation between
the computer and the distant server is as safe over WiFi, as it is over the
Internet as a whole. BUT that protects only the conversation, not any data
generated by the conversation and stored on the computer.

If you mean that her WiFi router is setup OPEN (neither WEP nor WPA security),
then anything on the computer itself is in danger of WiFi hackers (aka
wardrivers). Merely operating an open WiFi LAN is a dodgy practice. Accessing
any websites that are dangerous enough to warrant a "secure" transaction will
likely leave you in danger of identity theft or worse.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/setting-up-wifi-lan-please-protect.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/setting-up-wifi-lan-please-protect.html

 

[Phil]

Phil,

Any "secure" web page is accessed using encryption. The conversation
between the computer and the distant server is as safe over WiFi, as
it is over the Internet as a whole. BUT that protects only the
conversation, not any data generated by the conversation and stored on
the computer.

If you mean that her WiFi router is setup OPEN (neither WEP nor WPA
security), then anything on the computer itself is in danger of WiFi
hackers (aka wardrivers). Merely operating an open WiFi LAN is a
dodgy practice. Accessing any websites that are dangerous enough to
warrant a "secure" transaction will likely leave you in danger of
identity theft or worse.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/setting-up-wifi-lan-please-prote
ct.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/setting-up-wifi-lan-please-protec
t.html

Thank you for the help information. I am curious, however. Is it of any
assistance in terms of protecting her lap top from a wi-fi attack that it
has an operating firewall? Or does the wi-fi simply create an opening
that remains vulnerable to attack. Phil

 

[Phil]

Thank you very much. This has been very helpful. Phil

 

[Chuck]

Thank you very much. This has been very helpful. Phil

You're very welcome, Phil. Feedback is always helpful here.