Telecom New Zealand launches national WiFi network

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Telecom New Zealand launches national WiFi network

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Mad Scientist
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#913591 11-Oct-2013 13:09

Just a question ... These wifi are not secured? How do people cope with unsecured wifi like that?

nathan

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#913594 11-Oct-2013 13:12

firewall running on your machine

VPN into something if you care about MITM SSL attacks if you're doing you web banking etc

Inphinity

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#913605 11-Oct-2013 13:19

joker97: Just a question ... These wifi are not secured? How do people cope with unsecured wifi like that?

They're public wifi, I'm not sure what you're asking? Even if they were secured with, say, WPA2-PSK, you'd have to give everyone the password anyway. Since you have to register a device, I would say they're doing some other form of authentication (some sort of EAP perhaps?).

Batman

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#913609 11-Oct-2013 13:23

Every time a background update is done by face book push Gmail other accounts with passwords are these poem to being stolen or intercepted?

NonprayingMantis

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#913623 11-Oct-2013 13:30

joker97: Every time a background update is done by face book push Gmail other accounts with passwords are these poem to being stolen or intercepted?

It's public WiFi. So whatever rules you apply to wifi you connect to throughout the world (like hotels, cafes, bars, tomizone etc etc etc) apply here.

In other words, you are probably fine, but if you are worried use a VPN

Inphinity

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#913624 11-Oct-2013 13:33

joker97: Every time a background update is done by face book push Gmail other accounts with passwords are these poem to being stolen or intercepted?

Now, bear in mind I have no detail of how Telecom are handling authentication on their wifi. But, in general, it's possible to intercept & decrypt packets whether it's a secured wifi network or not (at least insofar as consumer-level WPA2-PKS implementations), if the malicious party knows the PSK. If the relevant apps/connections use TLS with a strong cipher suite (and PFS where possible), much of the risk is mitigated.

Batman

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#913626 11-Oct-2013 13:34

Ok I'll read up on vpn ... is it like redirecting the telecom wifi to my home router or something?

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NonprayingMantis

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#913630 11-Oct-2013 13:37

joker97: Ok I'll read up on vpn ... is it like redirecting the telecom wifi to my home router or something?

No. Unless you are transmitting classified info or something then you will almost certainly be fine.

openmedia

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#913769 11-Oct-2013 17:32

Shame they don't offer a WPA2 option once you've signed up.

Anyone worked out the range for the telephone box based APs and are then directed downwards. I can see some from my office but I can't pickup a signal.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

openmedia

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#913770 11-Oct-2013 17:35

openmedia:
Anyone worked out the range for the telephone box based APs and are then directed downwards. I can see some from my office but I can't pickup a signal.

So officially

As long as you have line of sight to the phone box then you may be able to go up to 80 metres, however some phone boxes have different strengths so distances may vary and also depend on how many other people are accessing, any obstructions in the way and your device. You're likely to get a better connection the closer you are to the payphone.

Anyone done a range test?

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

Inphinity

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#913776 11-Oct-2013 17:49

openmedia: Shame they don't offer a WPA2 option once you've signed up.

For what reason?

richms

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#913779 11-Oct-2013 17:52

Did you get closer and check it was on? I have tried a couple that I assume were in the build stage - AP on the roof but nothing coming out of it.

I have had great speeds sitting in the car about 100m from one on my mobile. That was in the northcote foodcourt carpark. I had to use the telecom wifi because my 2 degrees 3g connection doesnt work there ;)

Richard rich.ms

openmedia

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#913781 11-Oct-2013 17:56

Inphinity:
openmedia: Shame they don't offer a WPA2 option once you've signed up.

For what reason?

Reduces the risk of snooping traffic between you and the AP. I don't mind encrypting via VPN work traffic, but sending everything I browse via our work proxy in the US is a pain.

Steve

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

richms

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#913786 11-Oct-2013 18:00

If you are worried about snooping then any wife used by other people as well isn't for you. Perhaps if they offered 802.1x it might help. But how do you know you are on the real telecom wife hot spot network of everyone knows the key?

Richard rich.ms

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#913787 11-Oct-2013 18:01

And I mean Wi Fi not wife

Richard rich.ms

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