Sprint Wireless Internet Cards - Secure?

[Pudsters]

If you buy someting online with a credit card from a Secure Server (https), is doing it on a wireless, Internet-ready laptop just as safe as a wired connection? Is it still encrypted or is it more vulnerable because it is over the air?

 

[tazuk]

Is the wireless connection encrypted? If so, what strength / type?

TazUk

Blue-screening PCs since 1998

 

[Pudsters]

I have no idea???? It's the Sprint Wireless PC Card, we just bought it and it works great, always connected to the Internet. Should I call Sprint?

 

[tazuk]

Encryption is setup on the connection rather than included within the hardware. Hardware generally implements one or more encryption protocols.
If you have no idea, then I would imagine that you are using a wireless access point / router as it came "out of the box" - ie without any encryption, using the default SSID and without MAC filtering. This isn't generally recommended so if this is the case I'd suggest looking at the manual for your wireless router / access point and establishing what levels of encryption your hardware supports.
If you post the hardware model details here then we may be able to help further..

HTH

TazUk

Blue-screening PCs since 1998

 

[Pudsters]

I called our account rep and they said their CDMA technology with authentication and identification is virtually impossible to capture or decipher messages.

By the way, this isn't a wireless network. This is a Broadband Internet card, no routers or access points.

 

[tazuk]

AH well there you go then ;-)

TazUk

Blue-screening PCs since 1998