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I have a new laptop for travel and have been told that using wireless is not a safe option for paying bills while on extended stays away from home. The house we will be staying at has wireless, therefore I dont control the security they set up, but what can I get for my laptop that doesnt cost an arm and a leg so I can pay bills and look at credit card charges? The bank site I use is safe but I have been told people can intercept my info between my laptop and the bank? Help, thanks.
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Laptop wireless security
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#2
hmccorkle 
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- Location:Savannah GA
Posted 18 November 2008 - 08:16 AM
This is really just a game of odds. Don't rush out and buy anything.
The odds are low that someone is going to target you and wait until you try to go to your bank online and check balances, pay bills, etc, and then give your packets a sniff. The odds are very low, in fact.
If I were you, I wouldn't think twice about checking my sensitive information over a residential wireless connection, especially if you have to enter a password to connect (thus encrypting your connection to the router and ultimately your banking site.)
When you get to the house you're going to, request they turn on WPA2 encryption on the router, and they give you the key you need to connect to it. That way, your info will be encrypted all the way around.
Best of luck!
The odds are low that someone is going to target you and wait until you try to go to your bank online and check balances, pay bills, etc, and then give your packets a sniff. The odds are very low, in fact.
If I were you, I wouldn't think twice about checking my sensitive information over a residential wireless connection, especially if you have to enter a password to connect (thus encrypting your connection to the router and ultimately your banking site.)
When you get to the house you're going to, request they turn on WPA2 encryption on the router, and they give you the key you need to connect to it. That way, your info will be encrypted all the way around.
Best of luck!
#3
shargu
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- Joined: 10-July 08
Posted 18 November 2008 - 09:05 AM
Thank you. That is what I need to know. Since we are staying on an island, very small, offshore of the US the security may not be as big an issue as I was told. Not many people go there in the winter. Thanks again.
#6
Adama
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- Location:California
Posted 20 November 2008 - 07:57 PM
Hi Shargu,
Going away for a few days and staying in a place where wireless is already availabe, shouldn't be too much of a big deal, specially if it's a private house.
If you were to stay at a hotel where they offered free Wi-Fi, then I think some type of protection would be good to have.
Going away for a few days and staying in a place where wireless is already availabe, shouldn't be too much of a big deal, specially if it's a private house.
If you were to stay at a hotel where they offered free Wi-Fi, then I think some type of protection would be good to have.
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