Wi Fi security

Depends on the site security. Password protection for the campground's wifi affords zero protection for your data. All it does is keep unauthorized users off the network, your computer sends data unencrypted, so anybody with a radio nearby can catch it all, they just can't log into the network.

On the other hand, banks and similar sites are supposed to be secure.

If you want to be certain of your security, you need to use a VPN (virtual private network). This requires a little software on your end plus a subscription to a VPN server. This will establish a fully encrypted connection between you and the VPN server, which then connects via the internet to wherever you are going. But all data to/from your computer will be encrypted.

How much security you need is a matter of opinion.

It's always a matter of situational awareness.

-Is the password widely distributed? At a campground that prints the password on every piece of paper distributed at the office? Or posted on a permanent sign outside the office?

-Is the password a tough one? Is it just the campground's phone number or address? Or some other common word?

-Is the campground located such that installation of a key logger would be possible or easy?

-Are the folks working at the campground office personally involved in setting up and maintaining security? Would they use it to pay their own bills?

:)
Lynn

Anybody with the password has an easy ride. Go to you financial institutions and tell you want a crypto card and use it..

Answer: Not Secure

Here is some info on VPN in layman's terms.

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/-vpn-network-security,news-17514.html

The CG network is not secure. Everyone has the password to the network.

That does not mean you connection to the bank is not secure. That is what you want to focus on. Talk to your financial institute and ensure that they are use a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) connection. Do not rely on the HTTPS: at the beginning of the URL address. That should indicate that there is a secure connection but is not a guarantee. Use your finacial inst to pay bills online. That way when you verify that they are using a SSL that you only need that one connection. They pay the bills electronically.

On the SSL your connection is secured through a key issued to your computer at the login page. The login info is also secured.

If your financial inst. has VPN then better.

I would not want to use any of the WIFI Hot Spots if I was paying bills online... Probably safe and nothing would never happen but why put yourself in that open situation...

We use the VERIZON MIFI secure MIFI connections and havent had any problems in the past 5-6 years we have been doing this. In my travel years when i was working we all carried VERIZON AIR CARDS and connected thru VPN for all our company connections...

Alot of folks really like to use antennas and other strange gizmos to use all the open WIFI hot stops they can connect too.. I guess because its free to use. Ocassionally I see some YAGIe type antennas pointing to close by towns to check into the internet through someones hot spot... Not my cup of tea haha...

Who knows if I am any better off using the Verizon Secure MIFI net but makes me feel like I am and I have no problems checking into the Internet almost anywhere we go to with a great conenction... Using the MIFI connection we can use up to five WIFI connections all at the same time everywhere we go even driving down the road. If the cell phone works on Verizon then the MIFI unit is going to work.

Roy Ken

If it is in the air it can be gotten. Use your phone as a hot spot. Even that is hackable but not as easy.

See my comments here:

http://forums.goodsamclub.com/Index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27424979/gotomsg/27507410.cfm#27507410

All this is assuming there is someone within range of the pop smart enough to use and decipher data coming off of a program like Wireshark. The question here is who has ever been compromised at a campground? It's not exactly the same crowd that hangs at a major airports open wifi

I normally use a Verizon air card simply because campground/park wifi is so unreliable. But if there is decent connection available I'll use it for anything. First I make sure that there are no similar looking SSIDs. If in doubt I'll ask the office to verify. Not so much a problem at campgrounds, bigger problem in airports, malls, etc.

Next, if I'm doing financial transactions I always check for the https connection before I transmit any sensitive info. That encrypts the data from my laptop to the financial institution.

Third, is it really worthwhile for a hacker to hang around a campground on the off chance that 1 or 2 people will check their bank accounts? Doesn't seem to be much payback there when they can go after places like Target and Nieman Marcus and get thousands of credit cards.

I know of one couple who had some passwords stolen when they used a library terminal, never heard of anyone hacked while using campground wifi.