Wifi Security Help

[newrecruiting]

Hello All. I'm new to this and not really all that tech savvy. I just recently purchased a PDA (wifi capable) and was wondering how safe it is to use unlocked wifi hotspots? My g/f has her wifi/router unsecured and I am using that to log onto the internet. Is it safe to do emails through wifi?

[golfnut]

Any email sent through hotmail, gmail, or any other free email service is clear text as well as instant messages.

If you want to secure all data transmitted over an open wireless network, consider using a service like hotspotvpn.com or search google for other services that do the same thing.

You might also consider securing your g/f's wireless as I'm sure you're not the only one using it to access the Internet.

Greg

[newrecruiting]

Ok so it's not safe? I don't leave my laptop or PDA connected to the wireless system for that long. Could someone go into my PDA through the wireless router? Could someone actually see the message on my email? Or is that situation need to have that person "be at the right place at the right time" to when I'm sending my message?

[WiFi Guru]

I read a similar thread about this at the DITY forums (http://www.dity-wifi.com/home/Forums/tabid/55/Default.aspx)

[WebGeek182]

Not safe at all. WiFi hotspots are convenient but are a gold mine for identity thieves. They can grab your data very easily. I'd stick with closed networks that use encryption and other security measures.

[umdivx]

Any email sent through hotmail, gmail, or any other free email service is clear text as well as instant messages.

If you want to secure all data transmitted over an open wireless network, consider using a service like hotspotvpn.com or search google for other services that do the same thing.

You might also consider securing your g/f's wireless as I'm sure you're not the only one using it to access the Internet.

Greg

Incorrect, if your using the web based hotmail or gmail it usses Secure HTTP connections. So any emails sent that way are secure.

Now if your using regular SMTP email sending those are clear to text and can't be seen with any basic scanning tool.

- Josh