Unsafe Internet Connections

andyanderson · Apr 11th, 2008, 00:12

Does anyone have experience with insecure internet connections either in hotels or cafes?
Thanks,
Andy

Nick-H · Apr 11th, 2008, 00:28

Insecure connections? If the plug keeps falling out you could try blutack!

Or, more seriously, check out these two threads:

one

two

You should find answers there

Briped · Apr 11th, 2008, 00:33

Hi Andy,
According to a friend who works with IT in India, all public PCs have key loggers installed 'for security reasons'. He advised me against using my seagate agent to go drive on any public PC, so I don't think I'll be accessing my online bank from India. I may be just having paranoia *darts a quick look over her shoulder*.

shashank.aggarwal · Apr 11th, 2008, 00:37

To counter the Key loggers, Indian banks have started to introduce virtual keyboards...

Here is the netbanking link of the bank I use..

https://netbanking.hdfcbank.com/netbanking/

Nick-H · Apr 11th, 2008, 00:40

If that were true, I would have thought it would be common knowledge. I haven't heard it before.

(which doesn't mean it couldn't be true, of course).

Suggest you check out the above threads: the security or otherwise of any given transaction depends on a lot more than the presence or absence of a key logger. The nature of the transaction and your own bank's site design may be much more important.

shashank.aggarwal · Apr 11th, 2008, 00:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

Suggest you check out the above threads: the security or otherwise of any given transaction depends on a lot more than the presence or absence of a key logger. The nature of the transaction and your own bank's site design may be much more important.

I second that !! I can also advice on using "Sify Iway" chain of internet browsing center, wherever possible..as they are more secure and have less potential to be tampered with..(for peace of mind)..

Hyderabadi · Apr 11th, 2008, 00:55

The virtual keyboard thing has been there for about a year+ with our NRI account:

https://www.citibank.co.in/ibank/log...e_newdipp1.jsp

I was kinda surprised when it popped up for the first time.

How safe it is, I have no clue.

Captain_Neel · Apr 11th, 2008, 01:36

you can use OSK - on screen keyboard.
From Windows PC -
Start
Select "Run"
Type "osk" and enter.

Well, this won't defeat spyware/trojan.
It is advisable not to use public computer to input sensitive data.

Ignite · Apr 11th, 2008, 01:57

Generally speaking, wireless or even wired internet is insecure at hotels & cafes, because they are mostly public wifis. I use public wifi a lot, like at school or at cafes & stuff, but I would never go on a website that would give away my personal info, such as accessing my bank account, do my taxes, or even check my personal email, because Identity theft is really rampant these days. But these internet connections should be fine for casual internet surfing, and gaming.

shashank.aggarwal · Apr 11th, 2008, 02:01

Ignite, if I had my own laptop, I would not have worried about the type of connection I was one...all the critical sites log you in secure mode..

The problem is if you use a unknown computer, which would have been potentially tampered...for eg. a key logger might have been installed !!

Ignite · Apr 11th, 2008, 02:13

Even if the site is encrypted, a good hacker can still put a trace on your laptop and remotely get on the laptop when he knows your're not using it and the laptop is in sleep mode, then he can log on to your bank account (if you have your online id & password remembered & saved), and transfer funds into his own account.

I had a friend that did this to me just to show how vulnerable public wifis can be.

He's an intern at Abagnale & Associates.

karuna · Apr 11th, 2008, 04:34

Quote:

you can use OSK - on screen keyboard.
From Windows PC -
Start
Select "Run"
Type "osk" and enter.

Well well well! Thanks for that. The things I don't know never cease to amaze me.

It's a pain to use though, isn't it?

Briped · Apr 11th, 2008, 12:34

Hi Nick, I take it you're referring to my post?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

If that were true, I would have thought it would be common knowledge. I haven't heard it before.

Difficult for me to counter that one, as I haven't personally seen any §s to support my friend's claim, but this is what he told me when I asked him the same recently. Then again, I may have misunderstood him, he may have misunderstood his source - lots of maybes, but I trust his judgement and don't really feel keen to put it to the ultimate test...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

the security or otherwise of any given transaction depends on a lot more than the presence or absence of a key logger.

Oh I know. There are so many security hazards that it's probably impossible to make a comprehensive list of them. The stuff of which nightmares are made

, which is a very important reason why I've started taking an interest in Linux (ubuntu), and can't wait till the day I'm an ok user.

Nick-H · Apr 11th, 2008, 13:08

Briped, yes, pure laziness keeps me with Windows

. Do remember that you still have to look after your security using Linux.

There are all sorts of controls on internet cafes, like recording who uses what machines when. Nothing would surprise me! Except, perhaps any of that data actually getting looked at by anyone.

I haven't spent time in one for a long time, and I guess I don't know anyone who has either.

navinkurian2002 · Apr 11th, 2008, 13:45

I have my doubts if the virutal keyboards keeping the passwords secure .

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystroke_logging
also record or take snapshots of what is displayed on the screen. ...

Apr 11th, 2008, 00:12	#1
andyanderson Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 22	Unsafe Internet Connections Does anyone have experience with insecure internet connections either in hotels or cafes? Thanks, Andy

Apr 11th, 2008, 00:28	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 22,909	Insecure connections? If the plug keeps falling out you could try blutack! Or, more seriously, check out these two threads: one two You should find answers there __________________ . IndiaMike Mod Team (The Grumpy One)

Apr 11th, 2008, 00:33	#3
Briped Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denmark Posts: 25	Hi Andy, According to a friend who works with IT in India, all public PCs have key loggers installed 'for security reasons'. He advised me against using my seagate agent to go drive on any public PC, so I don't think I'll be accessing my online bank from India. I may be just having paranoia darts a quick look over her shoulder. __________________ No matter what you say about India the opposite is true too. Rudyard Kipling (I believe)

Apr 11th, 2008, 00:37	#4
shashank.aggarwal The Meet Up Guru Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 4,163	To counter the Key loggers, Indian banks have started to introduce virtual keyboards... Here is the netbanking link of the bank I use.. https://netbanking.hdfcbank.com/netbanking/ __________________ Travelogue - Around India Random Reviews

Apr 11th, 2008, 01:57	#9
Ignite American Desi Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The City of Angels, California Posts: 375	Generally speaking, wireless or even wired internet is insecure at hotels & cafes, because they are mostly public wifis. I use public wifi a lot, like at school or at cafes & stuff, but I would never go on a website that would give away my personal info, such as accessing my bank account, do my taxes, or even check my personal email, because Identity theft is really rampant these days. But these internet connections should be fine for casual internet surfing, and gaming. __________________ I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.

Apr 11th, 2008, 00:40	#5
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 22,909	If that were true, I would have thought it would be common knowledge. I haven't heard it before. (which doesn't mean it couldn't be true, of course). Suggest you check out the above threads: the security or otherwise of any given transaction depends on a lot more than the presence or absence of a key logger. The nature of the transaction and your own bank's site design may be much more important.

Apr 11th, 2008, 00:55	#7
Hyderabadi Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: GA,USA. Posts: 972	The virtual keyboard thing has been there for about a year+ with our NRI account: https://www.citibank.co.in/ibank/log...e_newdipp1.jsp I was kinda surprised when it popped up for the first time. How safe it is, I have no clue.

Apr 11th, 2008, 01:36	#8
Captain_Neel Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 73	you can use OSK - on screen keyboard. From Windows PC - Start Select "Run" Type "osk" and enter. Well, this won't defeat spyware/trojan. It is advisable not to use public computer to input sensitive data.

Apr 11th, 2008, 02:01	#10
shashank.aggarwal The Meet Up Guru Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 4,163	Ignite, if I had my own laptop, I would not have worried about the type of connection I was one...all the critical sites log you in secure mode.. The problem is if you use a unknown computer, which would have been potentially tampered...for eg. a key logger might have been installed !!

Apr 11th, 2008, 02:13	#11
Ignite American Desi Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The City of Angels, California Posts: 375	Even if the site is encrypted, a good hacker can still put a trace on your laptop and remotely get on the laptop when he knows your're not using it and the laptop is in sleep mode, then he can log on to your bank account (if you have your online id & password remembered & saved), and transfer funds into his own account. I had a friend that did this to me just to show how vulnerable public wifis can be. He's an intern at Abagnale & Associates.

Apr 11th, 2008, 13:08	#14
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 22,909	Briped, yes, pure laziness keeps me with Windows . Do remember that you still have to look after your security using Linux. There are all sorts of controls on internet cafes, like recording who uses what machines when. Nothing would surprise me! Except, perhaps any of that data actually getting looked at by anyone. I haven't spent time in one for a long time, and I guess I don't know anyone who has either.

Apr 11th, 2008, 13:45	#15
navinkurian2002 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai,India Posts: 680	I have my doubts if the virutal keyboards keeping the passwords secure . en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystroke_logging also record or take snapshots of what is displayed on the screen. ... __________________ It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare dream of meeting your heart's longing. Budget Hotels ]

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