westernrvparkowner wrote:
aslakson wrote:
A VPN is a private connection between two or more computers you control. I'm not sure how it could be made to work unless it's between your traveling computer and your stationary one back home.
Any financial institution will use a secure website - https - for on-line transactions. The chances of having that compromised are almost nil.
Of course, if you're going to use a "community" computer like those at a public library while you're on the road, then all bets are off.
al
I agree. The security provided by a secure website is more than adequate to protect the common banking transaction from a public wifi system. Sure, there are many theoretical ways to defeat that security, but campgrounds, McDonalds, Starbucks and the like are hardly target rich environments. As Willie Sutton famously responded when asked why he robbed banks "That's where the money is". The same can be said for hackers. Public wifi connections are mostly a gaggle of photos, personal messages, facebook, videos, sports scores, news, Hollywood gossip and Porn. Just not the pond the professional data fisherman is going to be fishing in.
I agree I would feel safer on a campground network, although I still wouldn't do banking but that's my personal choice.
Starbucks, etc. is a different story, particularly in a busy area. It is a target rich environment because it's a volume game. Setting up a spoof network than can collect all traffic going through would collect more than you think and it's not labor intensive.
