Wireless security

[MasterRacker]

We all know that doing banking, etc. on open wi-fi network is a bad idea. How does a cell phone network compare?

If I'm using my smartphone web browser over 3G what kind of security issues am I looking at compared to conventional networks?

Jeff
[small][purple]It's never too early to begin preparing for [/purple]International Talk Like a Pirate Day
"The software I buy sucks, The software I write sucks. It's time to give up and have a beer..." - Me[/small]

 

[North323]

with open public wireless, anyone can connect. your cell phone is a bit more secure in that a user needs sophisicated equipment to p0wn your cell phone. you are talking about two different types of technology. althoug possible, online banking over your cell phone is more secure

 

[MasterRacker]

I figured it would be more secure, I'm just wondering by how much.

In my specific case, I'm now the proud owner of a Motorola Droid (Android 2.0). It's always Internet connected and has a Webkit browser built in.

I have no idea what kind of protocol translations, etc go on between the cell network and the Internet.

Jeff
[small][purple]It's never too early to begin preparing for [/purple]International Talk Like a Pirate Day
"The software I buy sucks, The software I write sucks. It's time to give up and have a beer..." - Me[/small]

 

[gbaughma]

Recently, a virus infected jailbroken iPhones, stealing banking data.



Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[jet042]

Cell phone transmissions are only more secure because they are more difficult to intercept. If you want to read all the data on a wireless lan and attempt to decrypt it, there are lots of tools that you can use to do that with relatively cheap hardware. If you want to do the same to, say, DECT phones the process is much more involved. You have to purchase an adapter, hard-hack it to make it promiscuous, and find and install the right software. That said, if you have $200, 90 minutes, and a soldering iron, it's still pretty easy.