UnprotectedPublicWifi

When you use an unprotected wireless connection in public, anyone within range of the router (which can be up to a mile with the right equipment) can snoop on your connection.

Not only can they see the same web pages you visit, but they can also access the hidden HTTP cookie your Web browser sends to websites to identify you.

For example, you login to Facebook, whether at home or in public. When you open up Facebook at the public coffee shop, your computer sends a secret message (cookie) to Facebook saying, “This is _____. Remember me?” Facebook verifies the secret and lets you access your wall and other information.

But when you send that cookie at the coffee shop on the unprotected connection, anyone else who is listening to the wireless connection can grab your cookie. Then they can send it to Facebook and Facebook will show them your wall and other information.

This method doesn’t just apply to Facebook, but almost every website on the Internet. The only websites which are secure are the websites which run in SSL (HTTPS) mode all the time. Your Web browser indicates you’re on a secure website by turning the address bar green or gold. (Different colors for different browsers.)

I recommend that you avoid unprotected Internet, but if you must use it, open your Web browser in private mode (also called incognito)—look in the File menu or try pressing Ctrl-Shift-N. Private mode won’t send any of your usual cookies, so as long as you don’t log into any sites, you should be safe.