Unsecured WiFi

[zenrol28]

This is a hypothetical question. I am wondering, can my desktop wallet be hacked if I log into an unsecured WiFi hotspot even if I do not log into my bitcoin desktop wallet? I am wondering because I travel a lot, and when travelling I sometimes log into coffee shop WiFi hotspots. I don't keep a lot of funds on the desktop but I'm wondering about this.

I think as long you dont log in, and also keep your keys and passwords somewhere else you'll be safe.

[audaciousbeing]

I really don't know how possible this is and thank you for bringing it to everyone who are guilty of being lackadaisical with connecting to the internet by wanting to take advantage of "free or cheap internet" not knowing you are endangering that your favorite coin that is on your system.

Even as simple as it is, there is a notification of the forum for someone who used an IP that has been used before on the forum and therefore blacklisted to pay certain amount in other to get it white listed and this is mostly due to the use of shared internet over the WiFi. I think we only need to be more careful.

[konco_kenthel]

This is a hypothetical question. I am wondering, can my desktop wallet be hacked if I log into an unsecured WiFi hotspot even if I do not log into my bitcoin desktop wallet? I am wondering because I travel a lot, and when travelling I sometimes log into coffee shop WiFi hotspots. I don't keep a lot of funds on the desktop but I'm wondering about this.

This may be called one of the main factors because if you often use wifi hotspot can be detected by hackers because if we are not careful in storing your own wallet with as good as possible must arises The risk to be received is the loss of money. Better after you do not use bitcoin again should be removed immediately in order to anticipate a bad thing later.

[alani123]

Yes, it can. Secure your desktop's settings and use a VPN if you're are using public WiFi. It's hard to restrict entry but even if you do also make sure that your VPN uses a secure and password protected DNS that will allow you to browse the web and use other web applications uninterrupted from Man in the Middle attacks.

[Theb]

It always depends on the user itself as even if you are on unfamilliar internet access all the phishing sites and .exe files they are asking for you to download will always depend on the user's action. If you are familiar to these kinds of malware and keylogger viruses then you know that it can be prevented by your action. From downloading anti-keyloggers, malware cleaners to you discovering phishing sites to real ones all can be prevented by you. Of course having more protection for your wallets is needed in order for their infiltration to be blocked.

[captainhera]

This is a hypothetical question. I am wondering, can my desktop wallet be hacked if I log into an unsecured WiFi hotspot even if I do not log into my bitcoin desktop wallet? I am wondering because I travel a lot, and when travelling I sometimes log into coffee shop WiFi hotspots. I don't keep a lot of funds on the desktop but I'm wondering about this.

I know almost all major operating systems have updated their patches for this vulnerability, you can look for this information on the home page of the operating system you use.

[jseverson]

Your wallet should be safe. If the network has been compromised, the hacker would, for the most part, only have access to the data you're sending to the router. If your traffic is encrypted with SSL, https, you should be safe for the most part. Even without those, if you're not sending your private key anywhere, you won't be hacked.

It's still bad practice as a hacker may find other ways to steal your data though. To be on the safe side, just try to avoid public hotspots, or get yourself a VPN.

[Chanock]

This is a hypothetical question. I am wondering, can my desktop wallet be hacked if I log into an unsecured WiFi hotspot even if I do not log into my bitcoin desktop wallet? I am wondering because I travel a lot, and when travelling I sometimes log into coffee shop WiFi hotspots. I don't keep a lot of funds on the desktop but I'm wondering about this.

I think unsecured WiFi cannot affect your log to your wallet as long as you are the only one can access to your wallet. Then make it sure that your wallet is secure and no one can access to it. By now hackers are rampant and they waiting for a good timing to hack somebody. Logging in unsecured WiFi in public place is good to used and again it cannot affect to your login on your wallet. Now many public place are offering free WiFi for the incontinent of people.

[Lucius]

Using of public WiFi is certainly a risk and it should be avoided when we use any service which can expose our user data.Public WiFi is very often exposed to Evil Twin attack in which hacker clone original access point and users then are connected on that AP instead of the original.Hacker then can see all user traffic and perform attack.I think that in any case the risk should be avoided,and never keep your seed/private keys on PC no matter how you connect to the internet.

[richardivan]

This is a hypothetical question. I am wondering, can my desktop wallet be hacked if I log into an unsecured WiFi hotspot even if I do not log into my bitcoin desktop wallet? I am wondering because I travel a lot, and when travelling I sometimes log into coffee shop WiFi hotspots. I don't keep a lot of funds on the desktop but I'm wondering about this.

I think unsecured WiFi cannot affect your log to your wallet as long as you are the only one can access to your wallet. Then make it sure that your wallet is secure and no one can access to it. By now hackers are rampant and they waiting for a good timing to hack somebody. Logging in unsecured WiFi in public place is good to used and again it cannot affect to your login on your wallet. Now many public place are offering free WiFi for the incontinent of people.

It won't affect your wallet if your wallet is offline wallet or paper wallet, what if your wallet is online? The hacker can easily get your password from your cookies or another method. Just don't connect to open wifi with your device who have wallet or password (just to be safe)

[drwhobox]

It's hard to imput your personal data including social media account, and mostly Cryptocurrency wallets Put a 2Fa on all of your wallet includin your emal and other stuff . We can't counter hackers when it comes to using public wifi networks. stay safe.

[bob123]

Basically your laptop (private keys, passwords) are safe. But with a man-in-the-middle attack and a few (browser-)exploits
there is a real (theoretical) threat to your coins. At least as long your private keys (or passwords) are stored unencrypted.
I personally would not store big amounts on a pc which will access open wifis a lot. If you do, make sure your keys/wallets
are encrypted with a strong password. It has to be (almost) impossible for an attacker to crack it. Because i would not consider
such a laptop as (completely) safe. In this case i would definetly recommend to use a hardware wallet.

[crypthomonkey]

Theoretically, all requests are encrypted now, of course hackers can intercept them, but at least they will have to decipher one, which is not always a possibly

[Irdina]

I think it's very dangerous, Because usually the wifi in the stall is infected with a virus,And it can spread to your laptop or mobile phone,That's where hackers start acting, through viruses that are distributed via wifi.

[uray]

Never use a public hotspot to transfer anything sensitive,it is easy for them capture your packets and decrypt it pretty easily ,always use encryption or tunneling before sending sensitive data over the internet to safe guard your private information while using public services.

[bob123]

Theoretically, all requests are encrypted now, of course hackers can intercept them, but at least they will have to decipher one, which is not always a possibly

What do you mean with encrypted requests? In this scenario there is no request at all. So nothing can be intercepted.

I think it's very dangerous, Because usually the wifi in the stall is infected with a virus,And it can spread to your laptop or mobile phone,That's where hackers start acting, through viruses that are distributed via wifi.

A wifi can't distribute a virus. Hosts within a wifi network can distribute malware. But a public wifi itself (i guess you mean a router ) does not distribute malware.

Never use a public hotspot to transfer anything sensitive,it is easy for them capture your packets and decrypt it pretty easily ,always use encryption or tunneling before sending sensitive data over the internet to safe guard your private information while using public services.

Again.. no data is transfered. OP is talking about a wallet stored on the laptop, but not being accessed while on wifi.
And an attacker could not "decrypt it pretty easily". How should someone decrypt something easily with it still being called encryption?
Do you really think encrypted wifi traffic can be decrypted easily
If its easy to decrypt traffic.. a tunnel is senseless as f***. A tunnel is made to send traffic encrypted in unsecured wifis.

Pls guys. First read into a topic and don't paste so much senseless contradictory posts.

[Wilfrer]

I think if you do not install malware or visit malicious sites, then the loss of money is unlikely. Because no one will know your password if you do not provide them

[Crypdon]

It is unlikely for someone to simply sit in a wifi area waiting for someone with bitcoins to show up and go through the effort of hacking into the computer to grab them. Most likely scenario is that a keylogger or specialised malware will be installed on your machine via other means and you'll get hacked that way.

[taiwww]

When you are trading in such a valuable currency they why to take risk by using unsecured internet connection.
I think internet connections are quiet cheap now days.
Unsecured or public wifi connections are targets of hackers.
If possible try to use wired broadband connection.
Change your wifi connections password from time to time.
Use and update your antivirus and firewall from time to time.
While using wallet do not click on unknown or suspicious links.
You have to take care of your own precious money.

[lepricoin]

This is a hypothetical question. I am wondering, can my desktop wallet be hacked if I log into an unsecured WiFi hotspot even if I do not log into my bitcoin desktop wallet? I am wondering because I travel a lot, and when travelling I sometimes log into coffee shop WiFi hotspots. I don't keep a lot of funds on the desktop but I'm wondering about this.

it is possible and better not to trust unverified networks (different free networks). it is better to take some precautions than to lose all your money, so here it is necessary to be paranoid