10.15.06
SPITwSPOTS member Nancy wrote in asking:Webmaster: I have two questions,
- What is the difference between a secure vs. a non secure hot spot? Anyone can log on to either, right?
- Why so much rebooting of nodes since Sept 26?
Let’s start with this; there are two categories to consider when discussing wireless security, 1) data encryption and 2) whether the users are firewalled from each other.
When data is being sent wirelessly, all traffic can be “sniffed”, meaning a third party has the ability to watch pieces of info, or packets, to go through the air. To secure your data a router will encrypt, or scramble it. With the proper code, the data is unscrambled and read. So, when you sign on to an access point and it asks for WEP encryption or such, it is asking for your piece of the math problem, or the “key” to unlock the code.
A public wireless network by default has to be unencrypted because people need to be able to connect. If one were to give out this key publicly, what would be the use? A private hotspot will ask for an encryption code before allowing you access.
Now, there are two jump points to be concerned with, one being from your laptop to the access point, and then the wireless network’s internal jumps.
We established that when a wireless signal leaves your machine, on its way to a router, it can be sniffed. On the SPITwSPOTS network, we solve this by offering an optional VPN connection, which is a Virtual Private Network. It encrypts the data between your laptop and the SwS network’s hard ware. SPITwSPOTS is the only local provider offering VPN connectivity to it’s premium members for full time security.
As for internal traffic, most all ISP’s have their own internal encryption. SPITwSPOTS uses many layers of high level encryption.
A HOTwSPOT is a secure open public access point. It allows anyone to log on while maintaining firewalls between users, meaning you cannot access any other computers on the network. (Nor can anyone else access your machine.) The second layer is called VPN security. A VPN connection allows for your data to be encrypted from the moment it leaves your laptop’s wireless card. This option is currently only available to premium users. For instructions on how to use a VPN connection, click here, or call Aaron @ 399.3379
So what does all this mean? Unsecured hotspots can cause problems and concern because your data could not only be sniffed, but any open or shared files you have may be freely accessed, and any virus’ or spyware on ANY other machine on the network, can infect you as well. This means that if one computer on an unsecured network is infected by a virus, it can then potentially spread to any other computer on the network. Not good.
Unfortunately, there are no easy tests to see if a network is secure, but there are ways available. One way consists of using two computers to access the network, and seeing if you can contact each other through the network. If you can ping or find the other computer’s files, you are not firewalled from other users, and thus are on an unsecured network. On a secure hotspot you should not be able to ping or access another computer’s files.
WHEW!!! With all that out of the way, there are several reasons that nodes have been rebooting since Sept. 24. We have had many changes in the RF (radio frequency) environment, (due mainly from noise from other wireless sources) and to rectify this, we make settings changes on the equipment, and many times this requires a reboot. Also, we have had an excessive number of compact flash failures. The operating system we use is stored on Compact Flash cards, (similar to USB thumb drives, but internal on the motherboard) and these cards have been failing on us, and we have been exploring why for several months. Unfortunately neither we, nor the OS developer knows why yet. We believe it’s a manufacturing defect, so we are currently changing the manufacturer of our CF cards. Failing CF cards is hard on our gear, and causes reboots. Finally, configuration changes also play a role. Think of the network as a living organism, and it becomes more tangible; it needs to be fed and loved each day to be sure it’s operating efficiently.
Hope all this techno jargon has answered your questions, and thanks for writing in Nancy .
Nancy received a free one week 1024 k pass for submitting questions that we posted and answered. The challenge remains to the rest of you loyal readers out there… send in a question that we post, and receive a free one week 1024 k pass. Not a bad deal, just ask Nancy .
Respect,
Brian “PunK†Ormond & the SPITwSPOTS Team
webmaster@spitwspots.com