Wifi and Safari

[Knightoftheapp]

I have a wifi only 64GB model. I want to start using public wifi. I was told today that my iPad 2 with Safari had enough security and that I wouldn't have to worry about the security on public wifi. Is this true? And if it's not true, what additional steps should I take to keep my iPad secure?

 

[dvmweb]

Good question.

 

[ATC2]

I have a wifi only 64GB model. I want to start using public wifi. I was told today that my iPad 2 with Safari had enough security and that I wouldn't have to worry about the security on public wifi. Is this true? And if it's not true, what additional steps should I take to keep my iPad secure?

I would not access any sensitive/personal web sites like banks, credit cards, etc. on a public wifi. Like the name says it is public. I only do social/entertainment browsing, and save the "sensitive" stuff for home.

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

Generally speaking, most websites that are processing sensitive data will use https - the encrypted form of web browsing. On a regular web browser this is when you see the little padlock icon appearing somewhere in the browser window. This is reasonably secure from casual observers - it uses a 128-bit encryption key.

You can read about it here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_Secure

However, regular email is not encrypted, so it most certainly makes sense not to send any personal information by email - ever. Even if the WiFi is secured, the mail is then traversing the Internet in plain - i.e. unencrypted - text.

But, as the other poster has suggested, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Tim

 

[Hayles66]

I would not access any sensitive/personal web sites like banks, credit cards, etc. on a public wifi. Like the name says it is public. I only do social/entertainment browsing, and save the "sensitive" stuff for home.

What he says.