Ubuntu

internet banking- security

Asked by gerrykeys

I am hoping to use a netbook computer for internet banking when abroad but wonder if there are any security problems when using a public wi-fi connection?

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matehortua
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Best matehortua (matehortua) said : 		#1

Almost all bank's made their transactions very secure, encrypted and safe.
If you use an public wi-fi connection the risk is that someone maybe trying to listen to all traffic (through a sniffer), so he/she could know that you're about to make a transaction or connection to a bank, but he/she can not hear the transaction itself.
Obviously try to make transactions with a responsible bank or e-shop.
So the short answer is YES its secure.

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matehortua (matehortua) said : 		#2

i can not say the same thing if the computer its public.
i would never recommend to do a transaction through a public computer.

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Jim Hutchinson (jphutch) said : 		#3

You could also set up an ssh server at home and tunnel your traffic through it. That would secure your open wifi connection so everything you do will be encrypted including things like email. There are tons of how tos on how to do this. Here is one:

http://ubuntu.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/ssh-tunnel-socks-proxy-forwarding-secure-browsing/

However, as mentioned above the banking session should be encrypted anyway.

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Tom V (tvice) said : 		#4

Look up "side jacking" on the web and you may never do anything on public wifi again.

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gerrykeys (gerrykeys) said : 		#5

Thanks matehortua, that solved my question.

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gerrykeys (gerrykeys) said : 		#6

Many thanks for your help.

On Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 5:54 PM, matehortua <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #46413 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/46413
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> matehortua proposed the following answer:
> Almost all bank's made their transactions very secure, encrypted and safe.
> If you use an public wi-fi connection the risk is that someone maybe trying
> to listen to all traffic (through a sniffer), so he/she could know that
> you're about to make a transaction or connection to a bank, but he/she can
> not hear the transaction itself.
> Obviously try to make transactions with a responsible bank or e-shop.
> So the short answer is YES its secure.
>
> --
> If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
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> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/46413/+confirm?answer_id=0
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