[Ham-Computers] How safe are Hot Spots?

[jeff]

How safe is leaving your front door unlocked?  Wide open?

If you MUST use one of these, set up some sort of VPN.  Anything else
can result in you being hacked.  The VPN sets up a solid, encrypted
connection between you and one other site.

I believe there's one called Hot Spot VPN.  You can also do them with
open source software, with Windows or linux and your home computer.


There have been many stories of spoofing, where someone will sit there
with a laptop that will imitate a wifi spot.  You may not know the
difference and start sending your data through it.  It will look
completely normal but every keystroke will be captured and anything you
send will be compromised.  I read about a few in airports!

Someone can also sit there and sniff traffic, possibly even connecting
to your laptop.

Yes, antivirus and a good firewall are essential, but they're not enough.

Be careful out there.