Internet Security and All the Coffee You Can Drink

It may seem odd that someone like me should be writing a technology blog. Because deep in my heart, I tend towards being a Luddite. I don't jump up on the bandwagon of any new gimmick that comes along and I'm instantly suspicious of any web endeavor that claims it's the next big thing. As a web designer, I see that a lot. There are advertisements everywhere for start-ups who advertise themselves as a "can't miss opportunity" and, of course, want you to set them up for free and share in the profits. Put your money where your mouth is, I say. If you're idea is as good as all that, it’s good enough for you to invest in and not leave everyone else hanging when it fails.

On the other hand, maybe I am the best person because of that same reason. In a sense, we've become so technologically addicted that any new "high" gets to be immediately accepted without any real examination of whether it's good for us or not. Sort of like the person walking down the street who keeps running into things or can't make any real connection with people because they're focused on their iPod. You've seen them.

I'll also be talking about security and other tech issues as well, so it won't be all doom and gloom. It continually surprises me how little people take internet security seriously. Do you really want to know how many people have never changed their password from the default password "password?" Or the ones who may use "12345678" just because it's simple to remember? It's a lot more than you may think. But to give you some insight into why we recommend things that might seem silly to you, I'll be discussing the reasons why we make these recommendations. And the first one you've always heard is...

"Never do your online banking (or any other internet activity that might require a higher level of security) on a public Wi-Fi."

Now, I'll be the first to admit when the hurricane came through and we were without power for six days straight, I pretty much camped out at Panera Bread and used them as a second office using their Wi-Fi to do my work. And many people who do think they are safe. After all, no one else can see what's going to my computer, right?

Wrong.

What most people don't know is that when you are connected to a Wi-Fi system, every bit of information that is going through that system is going to your computer as well. The guy next to you who is playing Words With Friends? It's going through your computer. So is the movie "Zero Dark Thirty" that the guy in the next booth is watching on Amazon Prime. What happens is that your computer has a unique code that gets sent along with all your internet requests. So when all that information comes through, your computer looks at that code and says "Is this for me? No? Throw it out." And it does this over and over with every bit of information that comes through the Wi-Fi unless it finds information that matches your computer and that it saves.

Here's the kicker. Any hacker worth his salt can install a program which will override this function of his computer. So he will read EVERYTHING which comes through the Wi-Fi. Most of it is just going to be noise, but every now and then a password will come through. And if it's unencrypted, he can read it. And if it's to your bank account, you might be kissing your retirement plan goodbye.

The same goes for your home Wi-Fi as well, but there's an extra level of alarm here. Make sure your home Wi-Fi is secured and password protected. There are hackers who will drive through neighborhoods looking for unprotected Wi-Fi signals. When they find one, they log into it. But now, not only can they spy on whatever you're doing; they can use your Wi-Fi to download whatever they want. And if the FBI comes calling, they're going to be calling at the house where the signal originated. Which is yours.

So, stay safe. Once you actually know what is really going on in your computer, all it takes is a little common sense and a lot of caution. Pundits like to compare the internet to the wild west, but with a little thoughtful consideration, it can be tamed.

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Patrick Malone is the owner/operator of Marshmallow Fox Web Design. Ask him about the name ... it's a cute story.