On Wed, 25 Feb 2009, Ted Kubaska wrote: > Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:30:12 -0800 > From: Ted Kubaska <[email protected]> > Reply-To: "General Linux/UNIX discussion and help; civil and on-topic" > <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: [PLUG] wifi security > > I find myself spending a bunch of time in coffee houses with wifi. I'm > curious about the security. Most of the time I don't care. If someone > wants to read my email, they're welcome to it. But what about a credit > card purchase? I have not done it, but what if I bought something over > the Internet using my credit card and the wifi at Bella Espresso or > Jax? Would I be foolish to do that? > -ted > _______________________________________________ > PLUG mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug >
Yes, that would be foolish! Why take chances like that? Your only hope of security is if the web page is SSL encrypted. SSL has a mechanism to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks, but if that is defeated, you're screwed. If I were the type of individual who was looking to prey on unsuspecting WIFI users, I would head straight for a hot spot. Read this: http://www.sans.org/reading_room/whitepapers/threats/ssl_maninthemiddle_attacks_480 Carlos _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
