MYStargazer
Well-Known Member
Am thinking of running my business from my boat. Marina wi-fi doesn't seem very secure to me... has anyone had any joy using 3G cards for surfing and emailing? Is it expensive?
Thanks, all.
Thanks, all.
Wireless internet connection on board
- Thread starter MYStargazer
- Start date
fireball
Well-Known Member
What is your issue with security?
Do you have staff in an onshore office with computer network? If so, you could use a secure VPN to there - because that encrypts the traffic.
Most websites that deal with secure data (credit cards etc etc) will have an HTTPS section - again, this should make your data secure.
3G cards are very much slower and generally far more expensive than WiFi - perhaps you could swap between the technology depending on your paticular internet activity ??
Do you have staff in an onshore office with computer network? If so, you could use a secure VPN to there - because that encrypts the traffic.
Most websites that deal with secure data (credit cards etc etc) will have an HTTPS section - again, this should make your data secure.
3G cards are very much slower and generally far more expensive than WiFi - perhaps you could swap between the technology depending on your paticular internet activity ??
sighmoon
Well-Known Member
I use a 3 g card, but it's seldom 3g speed, and if you're somewhere remote, there's zero coverage anyway.
I don't believe it is more secure than wifi. I thought the nature of the internet is that all non-encrypted connections (ie not https) can be interceptd.
I don't believe it is more secure than wifi. I thought the nature of the internet is that all non-encrypted connections (ie not https) can be interceptd.
Neil_M
Well-Known Member
You have 2 points to consider - the local wifi connection & the internet itself. The wifi bit you need to talk to the local administrator about & satisfy yourself re its integrity & any encryption used. As Fireball points out, if you're doing business over the internet then a secure VPN (virtual private network) 'tunnel' to colleagues & partners or customers can offer a very high level of security & privacy.
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
we've barely got the majority here around the idea of wireless....vpn is going to do their head in! one step at a time! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
MYStargazer
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
we've barely got the majority here around the idea of wireless....vpn is going to do their head in! one step at a time! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
All much appreciated, but my head is well and truly done in just by the above!!! I need security as I will be undertaking sensitive legal work.
I take it anyone administrating the WiFi network could sneek a peek, then?
we've barely got the majority here around the idea of wireless....vpn is going to do their head in! one step at a time! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
All much appreciated, but my head is well and truly done in just by the above!!! I need security as I will be undertaking sensitive legal work.
I take it anyone administrating the WiFi network could sneek a peek, then?
tome
Well-Known Member
I use vpn to access our intranet, but naturally by invitation only
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
vpn (virtual private network) is totally independent of how you connect to the internet. It could be wifi, broadband, dial up, mobile phone. Doesn't matter.
It's a tunnel through the internet that connects you to the other end of the VPN with a very high level of security. A bit like you are logged onto the office network, even though you are away from it.
I sometimes feel like I should charge for this sort of thing?
It's a tunnel through the internet that connects you to the other end of the VPN with a very high level of security. A bit like you are logged onto the office network, even though you are away from it.
I sometimes feel like I should charge for this sort of thing?
fireball
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I need security as I will be undertaking sensitive legal work.
I take it anyone administrating the WiFi network could sneek a peek, then?
[/ QUOTE ]
Assuming you have a suitable firewall on your computer then the only information that can be gleened from your Wifi connection will be the unencrypted data transfered via it ...
so any normal HTTP: web browsing and more importantly - any emails you may send/receive.
The importance is on the "COULD" rather than "WILL" though - but it is advisable to minimise risk as far as possible.
You haven't mentioned if you are working as part of a larger office or as a standalone - as this makes a big difference - if you are in a larger office, the VPN route is ideal as ALL your data transfered via the VPN is encrypted. If you are a standalone, then you probably don't have the fixed presence to VPN too - so you need to make alternative arrangements.
As previously said - any website with HTTPS can be deemed safe (assuming you trust the site !!).
Encrypting emails is more tricky - but perfectly possibe, as I don't need encrypted emails I don't know enough about it to help ... sorry! I know Yahoo mail has an HTTPS login facility - so if you can use their facility for email then they will be secure (wanna make it boaty ... CQR then! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif). I would guess that other online email services have a similar facility.
The one big difference between WiFi and 3G/GPRS is the charging system - WiFi you (tend to) pay a flat fee for a specified time no matter how much you transfer where as 3G/GPRS is charged by how much you transfer rather than how long you are connected.
So if you are a light internet user then 3G/GPRS is perfectly acceptible, but if you intend longer times surfing or send large volumes of emails then WiFi is likely to be cheaper.
I need security as I will be undertaking sensitive legal work.
I take it anyone administrating the WiFi network could sneek a peek, then?
[/ QUOTE ]
Assuming you have a suitable firewall on your computer then the only information that can be gleened from your Wifi connection will be the unencrypted data transfered via it ...
so any normal HTTP: web browsing and more importantly - any emails you may send/receive.
The importance is on the "COULD" rather than "WILL" though - but it is advisable to minimise risk as far as possible.
You haven't mentioned if you are working as part of a larger office or as a standalone - as this makes a big difference - if you are in a larger office, the VPN route is ideal as ALL your data transfered via the VPN is encrypted. If you are a standalone, then you probably don't have the fixed presence to VPN too - so you need to make alternative arrangements.
As previously said - any website with HTTPS can be deemed safe (assuming you trust the site !!).
Encrypting emails is more tricky - but perfectly possibe, as I don't need encrypted emails I don't know enough about it to help ... sorry! I know Yahoo mail has an HTTPS login facility - so if you can use their facility for email then they will be secure (wanna make it boaty ... CQR then! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif). I would guess that other online email services have a similar facility.
The one big difference between WiFi and 3G/GPRS is the charging system - WiFi you (tend to) pay a flat fee for a specified time no matter how much you transfer where as 3G/GPRS is charged by how much you transfer rather than how long you are connected.
So if you are a light internet user then 3G/GPRS is perfectly acceptible, but if you intend longer times surfing or send large volumes of emails then WiFi is likely to be cheaper.
st599
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
we've barely got the majority here around the idea of wireless....vpn is going to do their head in! one step at a time! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
All much appreciated, but my head is well and truly done in just by the above!!! I need security as I will be undertaking sensitive legal work.
I take it anyone administrating the WiFi network could sneek a peek, then?
[/ QUOTE ]
No, just anyone.
You can use security on IEEE802.11, but the one which is mainly used (Wired Equivalent Privacy) can be cracked using something like http://weplab.sourceforge.net/
[ QUOTE ]
we've barely got the majority here around the idea of wireless....vpn is going to do their head in! one step at a time! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
All much appreciated, but my head is well and truly done in just by the above!!! I need security as I will be undertaking sensitive legal work.
I take it anyone administrating the WiFi network could sneek a peek, then?
[/ QUOTE ]
No, just anyone.
You can use security on IEEE802.11, but the one which is mainly used (Wired Equivalent Privacy) can be cracked using something like http://weplab.sourceforge.net/
BrendanS
Well-Known Member
you seem to have skipped the fact that many offices and homes are wifi, which are totally totally free - other than ISP charges of course
fireball
Well-Known Member
True ... but as you said - there is the associated ISP charge if it is your home/office wifi your connected too - and we were talking about marina WiFi access - rather than (ab)using some poor persons wifi they haven't protected .... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
ex-Gladys
Well-Known Member
For the 3G initiates, there are a number of things of which you need to be aware:
1. Cell size in 3G flexes depending on the number of connections,so if you are on ht eedge of a cell, and soemone else joins in it is not uimpossible that you may lose signal...
2. Data Rates at 384k are "ideal" conditions - only data connection in the cell and less than (iirc) 8 voice connections
3. 3G phones are hybrid devices to cope with the fact that genuine 3G coverage is limited. Quite often you will be using GPRS rather than 3G for data
1. Cell size in 3G flexes depending on the number of connections,so if you are on ht eedge of a cell, and soemone else joins in it is not uimpossible that you may lose signal...
2. Data Rates at 384k are "ideal" conditions - only data connection in the cell and less than (iirc) 8 voice connections
3. 3G phones are hybrid devices to cope with the fact that genuine 3G coverage is limited. Quite often you will be using GPRS rather than 3G for data
MYStargazer
Well-Known Member
Not much of the above is making much sense, but I will be using a standalone laptop.
Given what you all say about WiFi, I think the answer may be to find a marina with landline access, or maybe broadband?! I know this is going to sound thick, but I've been living in Timbuktoo for quite a while... do I need a new broadband line putting in, or does just this plug into the telephone line???
(Please bear with me...!)
Given what you all say about WiFi, I think the answer may be to find a marina with landline access, or maybe broadband?! I know this is going to sound thick, but I've been living in Timbuktoo for quite a while... do I need a new broadband line putting in, or does just this plug into the telephone line???
(Please bear with me...!)
fireball
Well-Known Member
Broadband ... is just the generic term for "faster" internet access .... there are many different ways of getting it, the most common is via a telephone line. WiFi and GPRS are "wireless" - your connection to the ISP is not via a fixed cable...
I think it would be easier if you could describe what you actually intend to do with your secure internet connection ...
If you already have a telephone line to your boat (blummin long extension lead when you go sailing! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif) then it MAY be possible to get broadband on it (depends on what type of line and the exchange facilities ... dunno about Cyprus!!) ....
I think it would be easier if you could describe what you actually intend to do with your secure internet connection ...
If you already have a telephone line to your boat (blummin long extension lead when you go sailing! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif) then it MAY be possible to get broadband on it (depends on what type of line and the exchange facilities ... dunno about Cyprus!!) ....
kcrane
Well-Known Member
I suppose it is possible that someone with the skills, the desire, the equipment and the opportunity could intercept your wireless traffic. What do you think the real world chances of that are? Slim possibly?
Suppose they did do it, what do you think they'd see? A fully formated e-mail or a readable pdf document? Nope, just strings of characters. So now they need not just skill, desire, opportunity and intent, but also the willingness & luck to decipher what they intercept.
Compound that with them doing all of that at exactly the time that you are transmitting something that is so obviously sensitive to a complete stranger that they could do something malicious with it (oh, I just added another requirement, they'd need to have a malicious intent).
Now what are the chances of all those things coming together at Chichester Marina?
If levels of risk like that worry you, should you go to sea? Discuss.
Suppose they did do it, what do you think they'd see? A fully formated e-mail or a readable pdf document? Nope, just strings of characters. So now they need not just skill, desire, opportunity and intent, but also the willingness & luck to decipher what they intercept.
Compound that with them doing all of that at exactly the time that you are transmitting something that is so obviously sensitive to a complete stranger that they could do something malicious with it (oh, I just added another requirement, they'd need to have a malicious intent).
Now what are the chances of all those things coming together at Chichester Marina?
If levels of risk like that worry you, should you go to sea? Discuss.
fireball
Well-Known Member
Ok - so they can see your unencrypted traffic and it is not easy to read straight off because it is wrapped in all sorts of other bits and pieces of network traffic ... but it is still readable ...
What would these people be after? Generally Personal details that they can then use to their advantage - usually by spending money in the name they have captured.
How likely is it to happen? Very unlikely for the individual - but snooping network traffic goes on all the time - do you play the UK lottery? I'd guess the odds were about the same ...
Of course - you've not just got the "criminals" doing this - there are those that are curious who just do it because they can (or try to) ... and then they "sniff" your id and password to your email ....
Computer security is something that a lot of people (including myself sometimes) don't take seriously... but it is a risk and it needs asessing - and if you can operate more securely without costing the earth then why not do it? You'll only moan if "it is you"
What would these people be after? Generally Personal details that they can then use to their advantage - usually by spending money in the name they have captured.
How likely is it to happen? Very unlikely for the individual - but snooping network traffic goes on all the time - do you play the UK lottery? I'd guess the odds were about the same ...
Of course - you've not just got the "criminals" doing this - there are those that are curious who just do it because they can (or try to) ... and then they "sniff" your id and password to your email ....
Computer security is something that a lot of people (including myself sometimes) don't take seriously... but it is a risk and it needs asessing - and if you can operate more securely without costing the earth then why not do it? You'll only moan if "it is you"
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I sometimes feel like I should charge for this sort of thing?
[/ QUOTE ] No one here is required to contribute. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
I sometimes feel like I should charge for this sort of thing?
[/ QUOTE ] No one here is required to contribute. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
kcrane
Well-Known Member
Good point Fireball.
I was saying the chances of anyone snooping is so remote as to be difficult to measure, compounded by the chance of them being unlikely to recognise what they're seeing anyway, compounded again by the slim chance what they intercepted was of any use to them
BUT
As you say, switching on wireless security is relatively simple and free, so however slight the risk, why not?
[--word removed--], hadn't thought of it that way.
But then again, despite my rhetoric about not worrying, I restrict my wireless networks to a fixed number of MAC addresses <g>
I was saying the chances of anyone snooping is so remote as to be difficult to measure, compounded by the chance of them being unlikely to recognise what they're seeing anyway, compounded again by the slim chance what they intercepted was of any use to them
BUT
As you say, switching on wireless security is relatively simple and free, so however slight the risk, why not?
[--word removed--], hadn't thought of it that way.
But then again, despite my rhetoric about not worrying, I restrict my wireless networks to a fixed number of MAC addresses <g>
fireball
Well-Known Member
I hope you've got encryption on them too ... I can change the mac address of my wifi card ... all I need to do is write a little program to change it for me and have 1/2 a century to go through all the perms ...