On line bill paying?

If your tablet device is directly connected to the AT&T network you are not using WiFi hotspot and you don't need to create one. The phone company's wireless data connection is more secure than even WiFi because of channel cycling in addition to encryption.

Folks doing their own hotspot are doing it for better security than a public hotspot.

No worries! My wife pays all our bills from our I-Pad even if were not on the road. We have never had a problem and were on AT&T (no contract when were on the road) and were on Verizon at home.

HTTPS is mostly secure. However running over a public wifi hotspot is risky, and if your device is configured to allow auto proxy discovery then you are at risk for a couple of fairly new key discovery techniques that can expose your login information and traffic. A lot depends on how good your bank security folks are and how trustworthy the WIFI operators is.

Password protected WIFI does nothing to protect user data, it's strictly a means of access control.

There are several options that can help assure your security, SSH tunnel to a known safe server, good VPN service, TOR. However all of these require proper configuration and good security practices on your end.

I would recommend paying bills on AT&T and only using public WIFI for browsing, email, things that IF someone was able to access it wouldn't mean an empty bank account. AT&T should have their 'stuff' together, and the risk of rogue proxy or MITM attacks should be minimal.

2oldman wrote:

maddawg46 wrote:
then why do I need some additional security device.

You don't, you're fine. Using a hot spot is no different from what you're doing. Been doing this for years.

I agree with this.

I also find it convenient to have almost everything go to my credit card automatically or have auto bank draft to a special account that I set up for utility bills (they will not use credit cards). The bank transfers a small fixed amount just enough to cover those to that special account for me each month. My utility bills are averaged (budget billing they call it) so I always know how much they will be. Most odd bills can be put on credit card by a phone call. I pay my credit card with an online transfer and I am done.

I pay very few things with my bank account and prefer to pay most of my bills with a credit card. Once a month the credit card is then paid off by the bank automatically. I do not have to go online to do it.
The reason why I do this is that it is easier to dispute any charges to my credit card account and, like most credit cards, I get a cash back with every payment. Basically I am saving money by using the credit card, and paying it off every month, instead of using my bank account for the individual payments. Your private hotspot is very secure.

As long as you are using your password protected hotspot you are fine. We went on the road in 09, we have since resettled, and everything was e-payed for almost 2 years while on the road. Now 6.5 years later, since we resettled, and all is still e-pay either through the bank or the owed company's website. The trick is to not use the CG or anyone else's Wi-Fi. I am on my personal hotspot through my I-Phone right now. It is our only internet access and we have had no issues.
Randy

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Is your access code on your device in place, or is it open?

I see a lot of networks in a CG and shocked to see many aren't locked. Just make sure it's password protected and you should be fine. Now as far as Malware infecting your system, does not matter what kind of access you use, your device needs to be protected or data can be mined.

Your only concern will probably by lack of service in some places with ATT. Where we were for the last 11 weeks Verizon was your only choice.

maddawg46 wrote:
then why do I need some additional security device.

You don't, you're fine. Using a hot spot is no different from what you're doing. Been doing this for years.