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05-29-2017, 04:58 PM
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#1
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LQ Newbie
Registered: May 2017
Location: SouthEast USA
Distribution: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
Posts: 16
Rep: 
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Wifi or Wired for Security
Hear so much about WiFi being hacked. Are Window users more susceptible to being hacked than Linux users using Wifi?
If one had a choice is it best to go with wifi or wired for a home Linux computer system?
thank you
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05-29-2017, 05:06 PM
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#2
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LQ Addict
Registered: Dec 2011
Location: UK
Distribution: Debian Sid AMD64, Raspbian Wheezy, various VMs
Posts: 7,681
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Security wise a wire will beat wireless any day. WiFi can be hacked regardless of the OS being used -- the attacker just has to record a lot of packets.
That said, WiFi is convenient and, personally, I don't expect my neighbours to spend hours hacking my WiFi then ARP spoofing, messing with security certificates and the like just for my credit card details. So, rather than run ethernet to the bathroom and kitchen I'll use WiFi.
Most house door locks can be picked in seconds by people who know what they're doing but not all that many people I know of have more secure locks fitted.
It's all about deciding how much risk you're willing to take.
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1 members found this post helpful.
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05-29-2017, 05:22 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Registered: Aug 2010
Location: Near Edinburgh, Scotland
Distribution: Cinnamon Mint 20.1 (Laptop) and 20.2 (Desktop)
Posts: 1,711
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Quote:
So, rather than run ethernet to the bathroom and kitchen I'll use WiFi.
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Bathroom? What on earth are you doing connecting to the internet in the bathroom? No, on second thoughts... Don't tell me. My imagination could suffer a factory reset.
Play Bonny!

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05-29-2017, 05:33 PM
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#4
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LQ Addict
Registered: Dec 2011
Location: UK
Distribution: Debian Sid AMD64, Raspbian Wheezy, various VMs
Posts: 7,681
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Soadyheid
Bathroom? What on earth are you doing connecting to the internet in the bathroom? No, on second thoughts... Don't tell me. My imagination could suffer a factory reset.
Play Bonny!

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Never hear of anybody reading in there before, or listening to music? 
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05-29-2017, 07:30 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Registered: Aug 2010
Location: Near Edinburgh, Scotland
Distribution: Cinnamon Mint 20.1 (Laptop) and 20.2 (Desktop)
Posts: 1,711
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You've never wondered at the, "Are you going to be in there all day!" shouts from outside?
Please be considerate of other users.
Reading: Book, Kindle device
Music: MP3 type player, iPod, Phone with storage.
No internet required in the bathroom!
Play Bonny!

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05-29-2017, 08:14 PM
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#6
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Moderator
Registered: Mar 2008
Posts: 22,361
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As noted above, a wired inside would tend to be more secure. Physical access is a big security leak.
There are many ways users are being taken advantage of. The sales pitches to many users on public wifi is that a VPN could protect them. You might be surprised to learn how many crooks hang out at on public wifi spots. Low hanging fruit from some. Get a coffee and hack into the locals data.
Your home could be less than secure too if you don't change passwords often or have kid hacker next door. A few million beacons might yield a password on wifi. Some routers are sold with an ability to break encryption.
In a typical home system, the attack is more likely to come from outside the lan on isp side.
Like the Seinfeld show. If it goes the the bathroom, it stays there.
Last edited by jefro; 05-29-2017 at 08:17 PM.
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05-30-2017, 12:11 AM
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#7
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LQ Guru
Registered: Jan 2005
Location: USA and Italy
Distribution: Debian testing/sid; OpenSuSE; Fedora; Mint
Posts: 5,524
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I use locks that are difficult to pick, not to keep everyone out, but to make sure they have to kick down the door. I'll notice that! I also keep a honey pot to gather info on unwanted users.
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05-30-2017, 01:07 PM
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#8
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LQ Addict
Registered: Dec 2011
Location: UK
Distribution: Debian Sid AMD64, Raspbian Wheezy, various VMs
Posts: 7,681
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AwesomeMachine
I use locks that are difficult to pick, not to keep everyone out, but to make sure they have to kick down the door. I'll notice that! I also keep a honey pot to gather info on unwanted users.
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That actually being my point -- if you're in a place where you fear silent home invasions then you're likely to need better locks and doors. Most of us know we've been burgled because things have been taken.
While the analogy doesn't completely hold for digital communication the likelyhood of loss and the likelyhood of that being something not possible to solve with hpone calls are still, at the moment at least, low.
I'll not refrain from using WiFi and the convenience it brings because some boogey man is out there.
Everything is a risk.
Just know what you're risking and what to do if you loose it.
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