Topic: Is your wireless network safe?

[Jim]

Here is some interesting information about wireless. 

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/hottopics/detail?entry_id=75679

It really sounds serious but I don't think it is too much to worry about at this point.

[Tina]

Scary. I have my wifi password protected. And I am on my computer hardwired in most of the time. So That is excluded, right? I hope? But my daughter and I both use our netbooks via our wifi. That is still protected by my password as of yet, correct?
This is talking about public, unprotected wifi?

[sunsoaker]

The only wireless I use is at home and it's locked. Although I did use Jim's when I was there visiting.

This really is kinda scary.

[bayou girl]

interesting.  and interesting that firefox offers both the "problem" and the "solution" both free.  some of the comments were interesting too.

[Jim]

It's not really an issue of the network being passworded, it's the fact that the data that is being sent wireless can be sniffed.  

Of course to be able to do that you would need some special equipment that most wireless cards don't have as well as a driver that would be hard to come by.  We are warned all the time if we access an unsecure network by Windows so it should come as no surprise.

If you look at the URL of the site you are accessing, it normally starts with http://.  The secure sites start with https:// and normally display a locked symbol in the browser.

I don't think we really have anything to worry about with our wireless at home.  At least not yet!

[Triss]

Eventually we will need to worry as hackers figure out ways around things... then those who prevent hackers will figure out more ways to stop them... it just goes on and on but is the price we pay for the technology we use.

[bayou girl]

pretty much.  and i know my home wireless is so weak by the time it gets anywhere, i live in the middle of my land, and i can use it outside but it is slow and weak.  so to sniff mine, they'd just about have to be in the house with me.  i like it that way.

[bestofour]

If I knew what you were talking about I'd comment.