How secure is the ship internet?

[Credit 00]

1 hour ago, mcrcruiser said:

We will never ever use a cruise lines internet  .We can wait until we get home with ll bills paid in advance

 

That used to be me, But I like uploading photo's for my friends and family to see. They want to know where I am and photo's will make a story more then just words.

[ontheweb]

So if I log on to these cruisecritic boards on a ship and get hacked, I might quickly go from the 3000+ club to the 5000+ club? LOL

[mnocket]

PSA: Chances Are Your Name, Address, Birthdate, Social Security Number, Etc. are Already Compromised!

 

I see that I've kinda been odd man out in minimizing the additional risk to individuals using the ship's internet.  It's a matter of probabilities. Since there are far more efficient targets for "professional" hackers (e.g. corporate databases, large web services databases, etc.), the kind of "hacker" who is going to waste time monitoring  traffic at Starbucks or on a cruise ship is likely a voyeur.  There's nothing wrong with taking measures to guard against your slightly increased risk while on board a cruise ship, but I wouldn't be overly concerned if setting up and managing a VPN is beyond your technical capabilities. You are far more likely to fall victim to other security exposures. 

 

Along this line........ you may recall the 2017 data breach at Equifax.  They have just reached a settlement with the FTC to compensate those whose data (names, addresses, birthdates and Social Security numbers, etc.) were compromised.  Despite your best attempts to keep your information secret, it may already be out there.  Since the breach affected the information for 147 Million Americans - there's a good chance about half of us were.  Was your information compromised?  It turns out mine was.  You can check at this website and if your data was part of the Equifax breach, you can file for compensation ($150 or actual damages incurred).  I filed for my $150.  While my data is "out there", I'm not aware that it has been used for some nefarious purpose - yet.  Some day it might be and there is precious little I can do about it.  I could try to get a new SSN, but to do so I must be able to prove that not only was mine stolen, but someone is using it (as far as I know it's not being used, yet).  Even if I did, it would be a hassle for me since so much of my history is tied to my current SSN - plus a new SSN wouldn't stop a bad guy from still using my old SSN.  I, and many others will just have to keep our fingers crossed.

 

See if your information is compromised

https://eligibility.equifaxbreachsettlement.com/en/eligibility

 

Edited July 26, 2019 by mnocket

[Lindaru]

9 hours ago, mnocket said:

You can check at this website and if your data was part of the Equifax breach, you can file for compensation ($150 or actual damages incurred).  I filed for my $150.

 

See if your information is compromised

https://eligibility.equifaxbreachsettlement.com/en/eligibility

 

In checking with CBS and NBC, they are stating that if you have not actually had your identity stolen, you are eligible for either $125 or *up to* ten years of free credit monitoring.  The $125 is also contingent on the number of people filing for the claim and could decrease if the pool is depleted from the number of people filing.

You can visit https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/refunds/equifax-data-breach-settlement and sign up for updates via E-Mail.

Just thought I would let you know.
 

Thank you, Mnocket, for bringing to our attention.  It was neither on HLN nor our regional evening news but was breaking news elsewhere today and I never would have known about it.

 

[Globehoppers]

Scary all the misinformation on this board.

 

Ship's WiFi is as secure as your home WiFi IF you set up and use reasonably secure passwords and insure that you have an https handshake connection.  Using "open" WiFi systems ashore can be very hazardous as they do not require unique passwords for connection.  

[richmke]

3 hours ago, Globehoppers said:

Ship's WiFi is as secure as your home WiFi IF you set up and use reasonably secure passwords and insure that you have an https handshake connection. 

 

Not True.

Assuming you have properly configured your home wifi (modern encryption, strong key, etc.), your home wifi is more secure than the Ship's.

 

First of all, your non-https traffic is broadcast in the clear, and anyone can watch it.

Second, HTTPS traffic is subject to a man-in-the-middle attack - even if you setup and use reasonable secure passwords and insure that you have an https handshake connection. Your https connection could be to the man-in-the-middle, not to the Bank. The man-in-the-middle intercepts your traffic, and connects to the bank with their https connection.

 

An encrypted home wifi network significantly reduces the likelihood of either of the above.

Edited July 27, 2019 by richmke

[Globehoppers]

First of all, who cares about non-https traffic, like reading news or social media?

 

Second, everything is subject to man-in-the-middle attack, especially at home where neighbors and anyone on the street can see the WiFi router.  Higher probability of that occurring at home than on a cruise ship (unless in port).  

 

The only time I have employed an https connection at sea was in Antarctica to download digital books.  Doubt it the penguins cared much, even the orcas and seals were ambivalent.  The vast majority of shipboard WiFi users are not "banking" on line.  Most are uploading images and email to social media to show friends what a good time they are having while friends are not...

 

The idea is to be careful with anything you do on-line.