Shared Internet Connections???

[pollycupcake]

I'm at a conference with a group of people for the next 10 days, and I'm concerned about the shared internet access we have. We're all using the same wireless internet connection and as I'm used to using my personal home connection, I'm not sure about the privacy issues involved in a shared internet connection. I don't have anything to hide, but I don't want other people (many of whom I don't know and have no idea what they're like), to be able to have any kind of access to my computer.

1. In this situation, can they see what I'm doing online? Will they be able to see details that the computer often saves, such as logins for social networking?

2. Will they have access to the files on my computer? I don't have anything private, but I have a lot of work that I certainly don't want tampered with!

3. Will they be able to do anything untoward, such as upload a virus to my computer or hack/destory anything?

I don't mean to sound so untrusting, but I'm a very careful person!

[LostMyMap]

Originally Posted by pollycupcake

I'm at a conference with a group of people for the next 10 days, and I'm concerned about the shared internet access we have. We're all using the same wireless internet connection and as I'm used to using my personal home connection, I'm not sure about the privacy issues involved in a shared internet connection. I don't have anything to hide, but I don't want other people (many of whom I don't know and have no idea what they're like), to be able to have any kind of access to my computer.

1. In this situation, can they see what I'm doing online? Will they be able to see details that the computer often saves, such as logins for social networking?

2. Will they have access to the files on my computer? I don't have anything private, but I have a lot of work that I certainly don't want tampered with!

3. Will they be able to do anything untoward, such as upload a virus to my computer or hack/destory anything?

I don't mean to sound so untrusting, but I'm a very careful person!

Polly,
The answer to all three is potentially yes. You can run a personal firewall software. Windows has one built in, most anti-virus packages have one, or you can get on specifically. Being untrusting in this situation is prudent.

[danas]

really???
I constantly on shared wifi
hotels cafes airports
The can see what Im doing online?

[aussieNickuss]

Originally Posted by danas

really???
I constantly on shared wifi
hotels cafes airports
The can see what Im doing online?

Depends if you have your user account locked on your computer or not. If you have no password set (to login to the computer), then chances are somebody will be able to get into your user account (home) folder and browse your files.

An easy test is to get somebody else's computer that's on the same network, connect to your own computer with your IP address and see if you have access to the hole folder.

[Brutha]

2. Will they have access to the files on my computer? I don't have anything private, but I have a lot of work that I certainly don't want tampered with!

If you have set up your computer correctly nobody will be able to access files on your computer.

If the convention is something like DEFCON where many people have undiscovered zero days it might be different.

1. In this situation, can they see what I'm doing online? Will they be able to see details that the computer often saves, such as logins for social networking?

Everyone can see what websites you visit and any traffic that isn't encrypted.
It's best practice to encrypt password that are sent over the internet with SSL. Some websites however don't follow best practices.