RE: How safe / unsafe is Free Open WiFi?

["Scott Race" <srace () jdaarch com>]

Actually, even more of a concern is Windows hacking.  I have seen thousands of computers with either blank admin 
passwords and/or blank user passwords, etc.  The user often doesn't even know their admin pass is blank (or that there 
is an admin acct).  And without a software firewall (or one that is properly configured), C$ is but a few keystrokes 
away. 

Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: "Kim Zeitler" <zeitler () konzept-is de>
To: "Sandeep Romana" <sandeepr () cdac in>
Cc: "'BlogPatrol.com'" <cybersecurity () blogpatrol com>; security-basics () securityfocus com
Sent: 3/11/08 8:16 AM
Subject: Re: How safe / unsafe is Free Open WiFi?

In my understanding, the problem here is not a person being able to sniff 
encrypted traffic, but more that of a person being on the same open network.

Many Coffee places have Open-Wifis for their customers these days (protected or 
not) and shouldn't a person sitting just across from you, who is also on the 
network be able to sniff your traffic, if the AP is not configured properly?
In which case the encryption used is not of interest.

Kim