Public Wireless Security ?

I've been wondering about all these public wifi access points. I've always
been told that using hotels and cafes does not offer a user the best
security. But, how about towns that set up wireless throughout their
boundaries for residents and visitors to use? I know that hotels I've
visited do have an access code for guests to log in with, but I'm not sure
how these cities and towns do it. If the residents of a town all connect
through the open wifi offered by the town, is this totally unsecured? And,
what can a resident do to more secure the data he sends? I got into a
discussion with a Mac person who thought there'd be no problem with
security connecting through a town's wifi, but I'm wondering about it.

I hope you understand what I mean and thanks for any information!

Patty

Patty wrote:
> I've been wondering about all these public wifi access points. I've always
> been told that using hotels and cafes does not offer a user the best
> security. But, how about towns that set up wireless throughout their
> boundaries for residents and visitors to use? I know that hotels I've
> visited do have an access code for guests to log in with, but I'm not sure
> how these cities and towns do it. If the residents of a town all connect
> through the open wifi offered by the town, is this totally unsecured? And,
> what can a resident do to more secure the data he sends? I got into a
> discussion with a Mac person who thought there'd be no problem with
> security connecting through a town's wifi, but I'm wondering about it.
>
> I hope you understand what I mean and thanks for any information!
>
> Patty

If it's done correctly, hotspot wifi access, including a generally
open-to-all network, will be implemented with routers that support an
"isolation mode" so that users who connect are not all part of the same
local network and thus will not be able to access each other's computers.

That said, as long as the connection is not encrypted, anyone can
intercept the data transmissions between your wifi computer and the wifi
server/router. You shouldn't enter passwords, credit card numbers or
other personal info on a non-HTTPS page, and if you're concerned about
the privacy of your e-mail, you'll have to encrypt it yourself, with,
e.g., PGP. Or access your e-mail through a secure VPN.

--
Lem MS MVP -- Networking

To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

No wifi is totally secured.

"Patty" wrote:

> I've been wondering about all these public wifi access points. I've always
> been told that using hotels and cafes does not offer a user the best
> security. But, how about towns that set up wireless throughout their
> boundaries for residents and visitors to use? I know that hotels I've
> visited do have an access code for guests to log in with, but I'm not sure
> how these cities and towns do it. If the residents of a town all connect
> through the open wifi offered by the town, is this totally unsecured? And,
> what can a resident do to more secure the data he sends? I got into a
> discussion with a Mac person who thought there'd be no problem with
> security connecting through a town's wifi, but I'm wondering about it.
>
> I hope you understand what I mean and thanks for any information!
>
> Patty
>

Hi
A lot of different issues fall under the word security.
First is Log On.
Some Hot Spots use credentials in order to allow Log On to their Network
(like you mentioned about Hotels). This Log On process is designed to
protect the owner and enable him to decide who is allowed to log on.
However, it has nothing to do with Wireless security per se.
Wireless security is mainly achieved by encrypting the Wireless signal.
The encryption key resides both in the Wireless Source (Router or Access
Point) and in the Wireless computer.
Most Hot Spots and other free Wireless sources do not encrypted the signal
since it beyond their capacity to deal with individual encryption keys and
maintaining the elaborate process of keeping a multi users Encrypted system.
If the signal is Not secured by encryption, many knowledgeable people can
intercept it and decipher it.
There are ways to "Tunnel a secure signal into a regular Wireless
connection" (Lem in his post above hinted to some measures). If one really
needs this, he/she should ask professional help to establish such an
arrangement.
In general, security in order of strength starts with.
No Security
MAC
WEP
WPA-PSK
WPA-AES
WPA2
Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html
WEP, WPA, and the Future - http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html
The security must be set according to lowest possible.
I.e. even if part of your system might be capable to do WPA2, but one device
is only capable to do WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.
Any one can connect to a Network that is Not secured at all.
If the you are connecting to a Network that is Not yours and it is Secured
you can Not control the Wireless source and thus you can not control
security. It is up to the owner of the Wireless Network to decide on
security, and whether he/she wants to provide the key to a user.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"Patty" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I've been wondering about all these public wifi access points. I've
> always
> been told that using hotels and cafes does not offer a user the best
> security. But, how about towns that set up wireless throughout their
> boundaries for residents and visitors to use? I know that hotels I've
> visited do have an access code for guests to log in with, but I'm not sure
> how these cities and towns do it. If the residents of a town all connect
> through the open wifi offered by the town, is this totally unsecured?
> And,
> what can a resident do to more secure the data he sends? I got into a
> discussion with a Mac person who thought there'd be no problem with
> security connecting through a town's wifi, but I'm wondering about it.
>
> I hope you understand what I mean and thanks for any information!
>
> Patty