Wireless Modem Question

[mordo]

I am surfing the net using the wireless feature of my laptop. The thing is, however, that I'm tapping into someone else's unsecured network.

I was wondering if I continue to do this, would someone: 1/ be able to see where I'm going and read things I have on my screen (like my personal email), or 2/ do something that may be harmful to my computer?

Thanks.

[oxbladder]

If your computer is not secure and they know what they are doing they certainly can hurt you in return. If you know what you are doing and their connection is not secure you certainly could do harm to them.

Generally if you are using XP, OSx or linux in the right way then you will not be browsing the web with anything but a user account or if you are not you have taken precautions they they cannot root you.

[mordo]

Thanks, Oxbladder. My computer is not secure. No firewall or anything like that. For safety purposes I'll try to minimize my time on the wireless network, although it's difficult being that the connection is blazing fast.

[oxbladder]

Well a properly functioning firewall will not slow that speed. It should just make you invisisble to phishers. Where firewalls can be a bit of a problem are with filesharing apps or personally hosted web pages ... but again a proper firewall should be able to protect you while allowing a perfectly normal web life. It is NEVER bad to protect yourself. Some operating systems will even be able to encrypt your data to anyone but you.

One of the easiest protection you can do on XP, OSX or Windows 2000 is to browse the web as a user with no admin abilities. So even if some one comes down your line your root system is protected (unless you have some simple password).

[fulltimer56]

If you are at home you might be getting service from one of your next door neighbor. You might check with them and get permission. A GET A FIREWALL/ ON THAT LAPTOP!

Linda

[StlComics]

Just a word of advice: Be very careful doing what you are doing. If that were my network you were getting into and I caught you doing it unsecured, I'd burn you, and burn you hard.

[mordo]

Thanks for all the advice.

I just bought a condo in neighboring Henderson, NV, and my phone service isn't connected yet. The phone company promised it would be operational Monday, so I should be able to resume using my dial-up service in the morning.