Internet or not?

laknox wrote:

Not quite correct. It's the wireless connection between the computer and the wireless receiver that's vulnerable and subject to interception. Unless =that= signal is encrypted, you could be revealing personal info.

Lyle

https even over non-encrypted wifi is still secure.
Outlook mail to gmail is secure. https web to gmail is secure.
correct, someone COULD sniff the open wifi, but WPA encrypted wifi has a rolling random code so casual hackers won't be able to see it.

so, use only encrypted (the site should give you the key, no key, don't use it) wifi connections.
use a good email provider that enforces encrypted connections.

IF you MUST send some info you want protected, send it in multiple emails so that someone would have to see everything and stitch it back together.

the bigger problem is installing guck on your system which might record keystrokes.. so, if you didn't explicitly ask for it.. don't install it. (this is what the antivirus products are supposed to detect and remove).

westernrvparkowner wrote:
Almost every payment transaction on the internet is secure. Fear of someone stealing your identity because you are hooked up to a wifi network is paranoia and not rational. Security on the internet has almost nothing to do with your wifi provider. Just look at your browser toolbar before conducting business. If it shows HTTPS, it is a secure website and all information transmitted is encrypted and secure (unless the NSA has taken a big interest in you). Your only concern is to be certain you are actually connected to the business or bank's real website. I.E. it is bankofamerica.com, not bankofmerika.ru The only fear you should have with public wifi is if you actually log into a spoofing, parallel wifi system. This is where someone has set up a wifi network, give it a SSID name similar to the wifi network the hotel, rv park or other business provides for public use. They would have software that would track keystrokes and look for account numbers and passwords. This would be a very sophisticated scam, not something you will run into during the normal course of travel, especially at RV parks or other normal public wifi locations. It is also something that would not be a long running scheme, since the business would quickly notice another wifi network with the same name as theirs. Finally, these schemes don't happen at RV Parks. Willie Sutton said when the feds asked why he robbed banks and he replied "that's where the money is", RV parks are not a target rich environment. Waaaay too many uploads of pictures and not too many multi-million dollar accounts being revealed. High end hotels and coffee shops on Wall Street are more likely targets.
In answer to the OP, satellite internet is expensive, slow and almost unavailable (the major provider went out of business). Best bet is to rely on a combination of Park wifi and cellular data plans and be well aware that neither are going to provide fast or affordable access to hundreds of gigabytes of data.

Not quite correct. It's the wireless connection between the computer and the wireless receiver that's vulnerable and subject to interception. Unless =that= signal is encrypted, you could be revealing personal info.

Lyle

Hi,

If you are a big data user then look at "Verizon flavor" of Mellenicom.

Ka Ron wrote:
My experience is that RV park Wifi is iffy at best.
I use the internet a lot for our business and RV Park Wifi is just not reliable enough.
Up here you can go with Sat. or through the cell phone companies. That is the route I would go.

This is spot on.

Almost every payment transaction on the internet is secure. Fear of someone stealing your identity because you are hooked up to a wifi network is paranoia and not rational. Security on the internet has almost nothing to do with your wifi provider. Just look at your browser toolbar before conducting business. If it shows HTTPS, it is a secure website and all information transmitted is encrypted and secure (unless the NSA has taken a big interest in you). Your only concern is to be certain you are actually connected to the business or bank's real website. I.E. it is bankofamerica.com, not bankofmerika.ru The only fear you should have with public wifi is if you actually log into a spoofing, parallel wifi system. This is where someone has set up a wifi network, give it a SSID name similar to the wifi network the hotel, rv park or other business provides for public use. They would have software that would track keystrokes and look for account numbers and passwords. This would be a very sophisticated scam, not something you will run into during the normal course of travel, especially at RV parks or other normal public wifi locations. It is also something that would not be a long running scheme, since the business would quickly notice another wifi network with the same name as theirs. Finally, these schemes don't happen at RV Parks. Willie Sutton said when the feds asked why he robbed banks and he replied "that's where the money is", RV parks are not a target rich environment. Waaaay too many uploads of pictures and not too many multi-million dollar accounts being revealed. High end hotels and coffee shops on Wall Street are more likely targets.
In answer to the OP, satellite internet is expensive, slow and almost unavailable (the major provider went out of business). Best bet is to rely on a combination of Park wifi and cellular data plans and be well aware that neither are going to provide fast or affordable access to hundreds of gigabytes of data.

Most folks I know with the Hughes or otherwise satellite network has surrendered on them. According to them, they are fickle and expensive.

Get the dish - now doubt, but try Mifi for internet. As long as you are not streaming a bunch, it's the most economical.

pdarby wrote:
I am getting rid of my class C and have purchased a new Fifth Wheel. My question is, should I purchase a satellite system with internet capabilities or should I just rely on the campground services for internet? I do almost everything via email including paying all my bills.

I'll also echo the others; never pay your bills or do any banking over a public wi-fi. Use your phone as a hot-spot, if you have to, or buy an air-card with robust security features. Or spring for the satellite with Net connection. Your personal info is just way too precious to mess around with it. Email is complete unsecure, so never, ever send credit card info using email. Faxing it may be a PITA, but it's secure. 2 alternatives you can use if you simply =have= to use a public wi-fi are to use a bank account not linked to any other accounts and only deposit a minimum amount in it. Same with a credit card. Get one that's =only= used for on-line transactions and force the issuing bank to give you a low limit and don't let them raise it on you. I have several friends that use this method and, even then, have had their accounts compromised when placing on-line orders or paying bills with them.

Lyle

Thanks for the response. I forgot about looking into my Verizon. I will check it out. Thanks all. Looking forward to picking up my new Big Horn 3370RK next week.

In my experience, unless you are going to be in areas where cellular coverage is sparse, you are better off saving the money on the satalite internet which is pricey and most of the time slower then people expect and put that on a solid mifi device to use in the camper to augment when wifi is not availible or not up to par when on the road.

X2 here with VERIZON MIFI unit. We are grandfathered in with 3GB dataplan for $27 a month. Works great anywhere our Verizon cell phone works.

Too big a risk for us using the FREE WIFI hot spots... ALot of folks use them however...

If we ever got into needing a larger dataplan we would go with the 20GB plan offered by Millenicom which uses the Verizon network.

Roy Ken