Using wifi safely while abroad
Sep 27, 2018 | 6:49 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
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Posts: 11,083
docbert:
I thought I read somewhere that the bank's proprietary app directly on LTE service in your "home" area is more secure than all the methods mentioned above?
There was something mentioned that beyond password etc they also check your smartphone's ID?
TIA
I thought I read somewhere that the bank's proprietary app directly on LTE service in your "home" area is more secure than all the methods mentioned above?
There was something mentioned that beyond password etc they also check your smartphone's ID?
TIA
Oct 11, 2018 | 12:35 am
#32
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Chicago, IL., U.S.A.
Programs: Global Entry WN, UA, AS, AA, DL, NH; IHG, Wyndham, Hilton, Best Value Inn, Marriott, Ramada
Posts: 654
What is your ISP?
[edit]
However, once you're on public open internet it's a different story - for two reasons. Firstly, there's the issue of do you trust the provider? How trustworthy is your local coffee shop, or the free wifi you happened to find at the train station?
But even if you do trust the provider, there's the second question of how you know if you're actually connected to that provider. I do generally trust Comcast, so if I see their "xfinitywifi" network I potentially trust it also - but how do I know that it's really xfinitywifi, and not someone simply pretending to be them? Same with Starbucks wifi, or your airports free wifi. If it's an open network, you generally can't trust it as you don't know who's really behind it.
[edit II]
However, once you're on public open internet it's a different story - for two reasons. Firstly, there's the issue of do you trust the provider? How trustworthy is your local coffee shop, or the free wifi you happened to find at the train station?
But even if you do trust the provider, there's the second question of how you know if you're actually connected to that provider. I do generally trust Comcast, so if I see their "xfinitywifi" network I potentially trust it also - but how do I know that it's really xfinitywifi, and not someone simply pretending to be them? Same with Starbucks wifi, or your airports free wifi. If it's an open network, you generally can't trust it as you don't know who's really behind it.
[edit II]
Again, my bookmark page has links where you can investigate the ownership of that I. P. Address. If it turns out to be a man-in-the-middle ISP, you will have learned this before you began engaging in crucial W-WW activity.