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Community Newsletter: Q&A: 4/14/06 Advice needed on using Wi-Fi access in public
- 4/13/06 4:18 PM
Connecting to other wireless networks
by defrederick - 4/14/06 9:24 AM In reply to: More questions re Wi-Fi by BeafergusonIn order to connect to a wireless network other than your "default" network, you need to View Available Wireless Networks. This is most easily done by double-clicking on the wireless icon in your system tray. Once you select a network (and you should be careful about which ones you connect to), you connect to it simply by double-clicking on it.
Often, a public wireless network will require authentication after you've connected. The easiest way to find this out is to open your browser. It will intercept your home page and present you with a login screen. If you successfully get to your home page, you won't need to authenticate.
A few caveats:
1. Any network you connect to will become automatic the next time your computer sees that particular network again. This can be a problem if your home network still uses the name of "default" or "linksys", as it can then automatically connect to a network you don't trust.
2. Even if you have firewalls and virus protection in place, you should change your email password every time you come off of an untrusted wireless network. POP3 email is the most common type of Internet email and the password is transmitted in clear text. This means anyone with sniffer technology can obtain your password and can then have full access to your email from then on. There could easily be people viewing your email without you ever noticing it.
3. Some wireless networks intercept all your traffic and proxy it through their servers. This can also be a security/privacy issue if you aren't using encryption. If you don't know whether or not you're using encryption, the best assumption is that you aren't and that all of the information you type or view online is available for viewing by others.
Dan
Try googling dsniff
by Megavolt - 4/14/06 9:11 AM In reply to: 4/14/06 Advice needed on using Wi-Fi access in public by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
With dsniff, I don't need to break encryption. As long as I am on the network, I can see all traffic due to the man-in-the-middle capability of the software. WPA, 802.11b/g, doesn't matter.
I can tell you that Outlook, Apple Mail and other e-mail clients do *not* encrypt your username and password. They are sent plain-text.
dsniff right out of the box will search for the strings ''username'' and ''password'' and print them to the screen. A trivial UNIX command will send this to a text file, and a file with a list of usernames and passwords will be ready for the hacker to use at his/her discretion.
There are a couple of things you can do to protect yourself from this type of attack.
One is to have all your e-mail forwarded to a web-based email account which typically use SSL for accout logins.
Another is to use a PGP utility for file transfers if you are not checking e-mail.
Trend Micro for WinXP has a utility that will detect a change in the network that may signal a dsniff attack. For Mac OS X, HotSpotDK will do the same thing. I am not familiar enough with Linux to recommend anything. The problem with these is that if the hacker is set up and sniffing when you get there, there will be no change in the network to detect.
Another idea is not to check your e-mail in public. If you must, change your password as soon as possible on a more secure network.
Also, this same software can be setup to check for the ''http://'' string and send this to a browser. It is really weird to set in a Starbucks and have your browser flash screen after screen of whatever the other patrons are viewing. At least, so I have been told.
Remember, public wi-fi is public. Don't assume that just because your screen is hidden that no one can see what you are doing.
- MV
Laptop Rubbers
by w0kie - 4/14/06 9:23 AM In reply to: 4/14/06 Advice needed on using Wi-Fi access in public by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I don't think you should ever hookup on a public Wi-Fi access point without maximum protection. I use McAfee Personal Firewall Plus, McAfee Virus Scan and Webroot Spy Sweeper for my protection. Never leave home without your laptop rubbers.
Check out www.witopia.net
by N Krupa - 4/14/06 10:10 AM In reply to: 4/14/06 Advice needed on using Wi-Fi access in public by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
They have a personalVPN solution for when you travel as well as a product called SecureMyWiFi for your home or office wireless network. Pricing is very low and both services work with Macs or PCs
If you don't have access to a corporate VPN
by basford4 - 4/14/06 10:13 AM In reply to: 4/14/06 Advice needed on using Wi-Fi access in public by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
JiWire offers downloadable software that encrypts your Wi-Fi communications when using any public hotspot (free or paid).
http://www.download.com/JiWire-SpotLock/3000-7242_4-10491309.html?tag=lst-0-1
Wi FI Issues
by martyfnp - 4/14/06 11:15 AM In reply to: 4/14/06 Advice needed on using Wi-Fi access in public by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
In answer to the WiFi question, I would only suggest that, prior to assuming that the hotel's system is capable, I would ask some very specific questions of their Manager. I had previously traveled for the TSA and stayed in many "better" hotels, and found many were different. Sometimes they will not tell you if your room has dial up, DSL, or WiFi, just that the hotel has the ability, so you want to make sure you are sure of what you are getting, and make a note of the person telling you this information.
Also, while the "front staff" may list WiFi availability, I have found more times then not, it is very limited, and may be positional to where you are trying to access it. The person answering you may only know that "WiFi" is available, but, possibly never having any reason to use it, may not know, or advertise any known problems. Also, if it is very important for you to have this access, see if you can get someone to actually try it before you arrive.
Other factors I have experienced that cause problems, may be on-going construction, vicinity to the pool, numbers of people who can access at the same time, and the equipment used to transmit. I would ask how often their system has been down in the last month, possibly because they are working on it, or it is not geared for heavy users. Ask if there are limitations on your equipment, and compatibility.
When I am on the job, and we take over a hotel's floor, we are highly internet intensive, and because of that, we almost always have a backup, including hard wire. But, we are unique, and the facilities will make sure we have everything we need for our job, but that does not also translate to personal use. Also, after a long day of screening, and data entry on the floor we are assigned, the last thing I want to hear is that I can not get the same service in my room, or similar places. Usually they will let you use "their" computers, but, even in their computer room, the WiFi did not work like it should, and I do not want to have to take my lap top from one location and transverse the facility, to use my data on their computer.
My best suggestion is to ask some very specific questions, especially to someone who has hands on knowledge in the locations you want internet ability. The concept is excellent, but as I have experienced first hand, if you do not push the issue prior to using it, and get all the details, it may be at a location, but that is a very different definition on the ability to utilize it. Just know what you are getting into, and, hopefully you will not have any problems, but have back up plans just in case. Marty
Problems connecting to wireless
by exs5 - 4/14/06 1:46 PM In reply to: Wi FI Issues by martyfnpI'm pretty new to wireless networking. I have a wired network at home, and my laptop doesn't have built-in wireless - I use a wireless card (my desktop is new, but my laptop runs Win98SE, and it will be several years before I can replace it with a newer model).
I find that I need to play with a lot of settings to connect - name of the system, type, etc. Sometimes, they seem to set themselves and all I need is the password (for hotels, etc), but sometimes, the hotel doesn't seem to know anything about what settings I need, and I can't figure it out by myself.
Is this a function of having an old laptop, Win98SE, a substandard card, or something else hardware-wise? I noticed that at the last hotel I was at with wireless, my room-mate (and her imac) were able to just click on the connection, but while I could see the network, I couldn't seem to get to the login page to connect.
Security and Not Transimitting ANYThing on a WiFi Connection
by carydc2 - 4/14/06 7:22 PM In reply to: 4/14/06 Advice needed on using Wi-Fi access in public by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hello Folks,
Come on now.
Encryption can and does fill the bill here.
You can encrypt all matters of items on the internet for transmission.
From including items in pictures as part of the picture to encrypting it outright with encryption from as simple as armored ASCI to as complex as SHA, DES, Triple DES, Blowfish, Twofish, etc. All of this is available with some simple utilities and most of it is free. Like PGP, or GPG, or BouncyCastle.
The whole thing here is setting up the infrastructure so that it supports this before you try to use it.
The reason is most times it uses an open key system where two keys are involved. Yours and the receivers. That means a Keyserver that needs to be involved. Public or private no matter it is possible.
Yes SSL helps, and SSH and tunneling would also make it difficult at best to pull apart. Also the bigger the key you use the longer it takes to pull apart. I prefer 4096 in depth.
So this should actually be how to secure your connections with out a Secure WiFi point being used....
Plus Use a Personal Firewall
by carydc2 - 4/14/06 7:24 PM In reply to: 4/14/06 Advice needed on using Wi-Fi access in public by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use a Personal Firewall even on my company Laptop and at Client Sites. I keep it current so that when holes are discovered they are patched.
I also look for spy ware on a recurring basis.
This is Securing your Laptop/PC 101 stuff.
Will ONLY stay at WiFi equipped sites!!!!
by gestault - 4/15/06 12:43 AM In reply to: 4/14/06 Advice needed on using Wi-Fi access in public by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I travel 15+ times a year for business and another 4-6 times for family and vacations-I have a list of WiFi equipped(in room preferred)chains that I go through before booking for any trip. My wife and kids are the ones that force the issue on family trips-we always travel with 2 laptops now-we leave 1 at home. If any hotel/motel execs are reading these...get on the stick if you haven't upgraded your facilities...you've already lost us and many others...
Just Don't share anything and partition wisely!
by gestault - 4/15/06 1:03 AM In reply to: Will ONLY stay at WiFi equipped sites!!!! by gestaultIf you don't ''Share'' any folders or printers on the network-turning that feature off in the properties of the folder(in XP at least), what can they get to??? I know a committed hacker can do wonders but how do they get around having absolutely nothing shared on the network? You should STILL BE CAREFUL and a hardware router with a different IP is great but over the heads of most people.
I have a separate partition on my HDs(labeled Travel XP) that I boot into for this as well. This is very geeky too, but it severely limits access to my ''Home'' partition when I do this( I think...LOL) and there is absolutely nothing on this "Travel" partition except the OS and a Non-IE browser. I always use webmail when traveling-most ISP's offer that. Then I leave the mail on the server until I feel it's safe to download later.
question about networking cards
by dode - 4/15/06 7:37 AM In reply to: 4/14/06 Advice needed on using Wi-Fi access in public by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
when I buy a card, how can I know the range of that card? I have a Conceptronic card and when I go upstairs
it shows minimal reception instead of maximal when I am near to the base.
Wireless networking
by Boat Man - 4/18/06 4:30 PM In reply to: question about networking cards by dodeI have found most PCI slot network cards are good for only 30 to 50 ft.from a router. I use a USB2 Motorola 11g Adapter and have had good luck up to 1500ft in the parking lots of public libar1es.
Boatman
thank you
by dode - 4/19/06 3:30 AM In reply to: Wireless networking by Boat Manthank you boatman for your answer. I will try.
wireless configuration for public access
by GFC1 - 4/17/06 5:26 PM In reply to: 4/14/06 Advice needed on using Wi-Fi access in public by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
what kind of configuration do you need to use wireless access at hotels and other public access points
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