I received my "Active Captain Newsletter" today and it included a segment entitled "Open WiFi Dangers". There is nothing on their website that I could find to link to so I'm posting the article below.
BTW, the newsletter is free and is VERY informative.
>>> Open WiFi Dangers >>>
Needless to say, we love the Internet. We've all come to rely and
depend on it for communications, purchases, and references while
cruising. We've been using high gain WiFi on our boat since 2003.
There are many benefits that WiFi provides. But there are also dangers
and these dangers have become much worse in the past couple of weeks
when using an open WiFi connection.
Open WiFi is when you connect to a marina's free WiFi without any
password. Many of us have also connected to open routers at anchorages
or in busy places. Many coffee shops and restaurants provide free and
open WiFi. If you're connecting to these open sites, we have just one
message: Don't use open WiFi.
There is a lot of confusion about this topic. There will be people who
will tell you that this issue has always existed. That's true. But in
late October 2010, a new free software tool was released that makes it
trivial for any 14 year old to grab your passwords, cookies, and emails
while you're connected to an open WiFi router.
There are some ways around this issue but they all require add-on
products and some cost money. We're testing them on PC's and Mac's and
will provide our advice in a clear and calm way in future newsletters.
Using a cellular connection via an aircard, MiFi, or tethering to your
phone is safe. Use those methods to connect to the Internet. In
addition, if a marina has free WiFi with a WPA or WPA2 passcode, that
is safe. If you need no codes to access WiFi, you're at risk in a big
way.
Here are some reference articles that provide more information:
ABC News, October 25, 2010:
http://tinyurl.com/2uzeqkn
Computerworld: October 26, 2010:
http://tinyurl.com/2axuqfz
Open Public WiFi Dangers are REAL: November 1, 2010:
http://tinyurl.com/29qa8a4
Note the dates of these - this is new. The potential issue has always
been there. The new tools just make it too easy to be exploited.
Don't use open WiFi.
BTW, the newsletter is free and is VERY informative.
>>> Open WiFi Dangers >>>
Needless to say, we love the Internet. We've all come to rely and
depend on it for communications, purchases, and references while
cruising. We've been using high gain WiFi on our boat since 2003.
There are many benefits that WiFi provides. But there are also dangers
and these dangers have become much worse in the past couple of weeks
when using an open WiFi connection.
Open WiFi is when you connect to a marina's free WiFi without any
password. Many of us have also connected to open routers at anchorages
or in busy places. Many coffee shops and restaurants provide free and
open WiFi. If you're connecting to these open sites, we have just one
message: Don't use open WiFi.
There is a lot of confusion about this topic. There will be people who
will tell you that this issue has always existed. That's true. But in
late October 2010, a new free software tool was released that makes it
trivial for any 14 year old to grab your passwords, cookies, and emails
while you're connected to an open WiFi router.
There are some ways around this issue but they all require add-on
products and some cost money. We're testing them on PC's and Mac's and
will provide our advice in a clear and calm way in future newsletters.
Using a cellular connection via an aircard, MiFi, or tethering to your
phone is safe. Use those methods to connect to the Internet. In
addition, if a marina has free WiFi with a WPA or WPA2 passcode, that
is safe. If you need no codes to access WiFi, you're at risk in a big
way.
Here are some reference articles that provide more information:
ABC News, October 25, 2010:
http://tinyurl.com/2uzeqkn
Computerworld: October 26, 2010:
http://tinyurl.com/2axuqfz
Open Public WiFi Dangers are REAL: November 1, 2010:
http://tinyurl.com/29qa8a4
Note the dates of these - this is new. The potential issue has always
been there. The new tools just make it too easy to be exploited.
Don't use open WiFi.