Ipod touch and security on public wi-fi

My wife was driving around town today and with my new ipod touch I was curious how many wi-fi signals I could pick up. In about a 6 mile trip I saw about 15 separate signals. Of course some were locked down with encryption, but other were not.
I could have easily gotten on to one of the open networks, sent/check email....surfed the web, etc.
My question is what kind of security am I myself giving up by latching on to this open networks.
I guess I'm asking what kind of downsides are there to public wi-fi and what I can do to protect myself as an ipod touch user.

Do not use public wi-fi for any sensitive data transmission, period. Sending a buddy an e-mail, looking up directions, surfing the general web, i.e. looking up wikipedia, twittering... sure.
But if you have a business e-mail or a personal e-mail that regularly contains sensitive data (like receiving bank statements, credit card bills), I would turn off push technology for the account and not access it on public wi-fi. I would not sign into any financial institution's websites (including PayPal) nor any site that has private information that you have a problem with someone else knowing.
The theme that is emerging is that if you are sending or receiving any information on public wi-fi, don't let it have any relevance to your wallet, or very private information.
I do not know how secure iTunes and the App Store are with your password, but I haven't sweated that particular issue.

Similar Messages

Just got a new IPOD Touch and it wont connect to our Wifi home network with a Belken N Router. Our router uses WEP 64 bit security, but had a "blank" password field, which the IPOD did not like. Changing to a 6 char numeric PW didnt help either.

OS is whatever OS ships with current IPOD Touch
I cannot understand why the APPLE engineers have designed this product so that it has SO MANY WIFI problems. This is supposed to be an easy-to-use product. We've had no problems connecting our new laptop, our ROKU box, etc, but it seems impossible to get the IPOD touch to work. NOTHING LIKE SPENDING XMAS MORNING DOING APPLE TECH SUPPORT TROUBLESHOOTING TO LEAVE YOU IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!!! Argh!
In fact, the only way we have been able to get this expensive brand new IPOD to work on our home network is to DISABLE SECURITY in the router settings. THIS IS ANYTHING BUT A GOOD IDEA.
DON"T KNOW WHY BUT MANY OTHER USERS ARE REPORTING THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEM SO APPLE ENGINEERING NEEDS TO GET BUSY AND FIX THIS PROBLEM SO THAT NEW USERS CAN CONNECT TO THE INTERNET WITHOUT HAVING TO BE TRAINED ROUTER ENGINEERS TO DO IT!!!!
Ok, sorry for the rant, but surely those of you who are experiencing this share my frustration. This is not why I bought an APPLE product.
IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THAT APPLE WILL NOT ALLOW A WIFI PASSWORD with more than one identical alphanumeric character? Any ideas? We also tried eliminating the 40 MHZ setting under Bandwidth settings in the router settings for our router, but it made no difference. The router has the latest firmware, too. Running out of ideas, and am ready to box this unit up and send it back!

Thanks, Bob! You are correct. And, we learned this as we spoke with APPLE TECH SUPPORT by phone on Christmas day (800-APL-CARE). One of their reps spent the time to help us troubleshoot this, but the boiled down conclusion is your answer, and to repeat for the benefit of others, here is what worked:
1. With our Belkin router set to "out-of-the-box" WEP 64 bit security, we could not get wireless access of any kind. Only with the Security Mode set to DISABLED, could we gain access.
2. Changing the router's security mode setting to "WPA/WPA-2...." and entering a new min. 8 char passphrase, and then entering that same passphrase into the IPOD Touch, and restarting the router, did the trick!
Based on this, and some info found in another posting, I can only conclude that the IPODs and IPHONES do not support WEP security mode in many generic routers used by thousands of consumers. Hopefully, those same consumers can figure out how to change their wireless router setttings to WPA/WPA-2 security mode and ALSO get all their other wireless devices (PCs, laptops, WII boxes, ROKU boxes) all reconfigured to WPA mode, too.
I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT APPLE NEEDS TO ADDRESS WITH WEP COMPATIBILITY and it may also be the case that MOST CONSUMERS ARE USING WEP 64 BIT security on their home wireless routers?
In any case, it's working now, so anyone who is having problems should try changing to WPA mode and post back here if it worked for them!

I can´t remember the security code to unblock my iPod touch and when I try to synchronize it with iTunes I can´t because it ask me to introduce the code that I don´t remember. In my iPod says that it is desactivated and I need to connect to iTunes...

I can´t remember the security code to unblock my iPod touch and when I try to synchronize it with iTunes I can´t because it ask me to introduce the code that I don´t remember. In my iPod says that it is desactivated and I need to connect to iTunes...so It returns me to the begining...
I already tried to reset the iPod, but it did´t work....
I need to activate again my iPod...Help!!

Place the iPod in Recovery mode and connect to your computer and restore via iTunes.
Recovery mode

I have a 3rd generation iPod Touch and just did the update to IOS 5. Now I can't connect to my Netgear wifi router. My iPhone connects fine along with all of my other laptops etc. I have the router set with WPA-PSK [TKIP] security and an access list.

I have a 3rd generation iPod Touch and just did the update to IOS 5. Now I can't connect to my Netgear wifi router. My iPhone connects fine along with all of my other laptops etc. I have the router set with WPA-PSK [TKIP] security and an access list. I've confirmed the mac address is included on that list and that the password is correct. Under choses netwrok I select the network and it just goes into a spin. I have tried removing the password and the access list settings and it still will not complete the connection to the router thus no internet access. The routers firmware is also up to date. This thing worked fine before this update and I've already tried to restore from backup. Any ideas or is the wifi nic bad in this thing with the new apple firmware update? Any fix?

Thanks Bob, I don't know why but it all of a sudden worked a few days later. It's a mystery but at least problem solved.

I'm using 4th gen IPOD touch and the wifi can't connect to my home NTWK, it sends me to a far distant IP ADDRESS and can't connect. a building public NTWK is wifi connectable

http:/I'm using 4th gen IPOD touch and the wifi can't connect to my home NTWK, it sends me to a far distant IP ADDRESS and can't connect. a building public NTWK is wifi connectable, any ideas how I can resolve this WIFI issue??? TY
[email protected]

Do other devices connect to your router?
What do you mean by distant IP address?
- Reset the iPod:
Reset iPod touch: Press and hold the On/Off Sleep/Wake button and the Home
button at the same time for at least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
-power off and then back on yur router
- Reset Network settings: Settings>General>Reset Reset Network Settings
- The troubleshooting here:
iPhone and iPod touch: Troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks and connections

I work in a public library and we have two ipod touch and two ipod nanos we would like to circulate for our patrons. Any advice on how we can do this? Should we allow patrons to set the device up for personal use or download static content?

I work in a public library and we have two ipod touch and two ipod nanos we would like to circulate for our patrons. Any advice on how we can do this? Should we allow patrons to set the device up for personal use or download static content?

With the Nanos, you should have no problem lending them loaded with audiobooks from Librivox, etc.
As for the iPod Touches, I'm not sure the question is whether you should allow patrons to set up the device for personal accounts, but whether you can prevent them from doing so. Prepare to to a factory restore every time one is returned.

HT1491 I bought a new iPod touch and I can't remember my security questions to purchase

I bought a new iPod touch and I can't remember my security questions to purchase anything

Click here for information. If you can't get the answers emailed to you for some reason, contact the iTunes Store staff via the link in that article.
(79027)

Hi , i have a 4th gen ipod touch and it runs on 4.3.5 but it wont let me update it to 5.1.1! everytime i try to install it..it says "sorry your network timed out" and wont let me! i tried so many times and it still wont work.. what to do?

hi , i have a 4th gen ipod touch and it runs on 4.3.5 but it wont let me update it to 5.1.1! everytime i try to install it..it says "sorry your network timed out" and wont let me! i tried so many times and it still wont work.. what to do?

Disabling the computer's security software (firewall and antivirus) usually resolves that error.

HT2292 I recently got a new ipod touch and the new one will not connect to itunes. I've done all the troubleshooting and now I'm just plain frustrated. With the new update my old ipod froze and best buy gave me a new one. What to do?

My ipod recenly froze with the last update. bestbuy gave me a replacement. the new one will not connect to the computer or itunes. i followed all the instructions and - nothing. It's frustrating enough as i lost all my notes and work, but now I can't connect to sync with itunes. i don't get it. i'm not a supertech so i don't know what to do. help!!!!!!

Thanks, Bob! You are correct. And, we learned this as we spoke with APPLE TECH SUPPORT by phone on Christmas day (800-APL-CARE). One of their reps spent the time to help us troubleshoot this, but the boiled down conclusion is your answer, and to repeat for the benefit of others, here is what worked:
1. With our Belkin router set to "out-of-the-box" WEP 64 bit security, we could not get wireless access of any kind. Only with the Security Mode set to DISABLED, could we gain access.
2. Changing the router's security mode setting to "WPA/WPA-2...." and entering a new min. 8 char passphrase, and then entering that same passphrase into the IPOD Touch, and restarting the router, did the trick!
Based on this, and some info found in another posting, I can only conclude that the IPODs and IPHONES do not support WEP security mode in many generic routers used by thousands of consumers. Hopefully, those same consumers can figure out how to change their wireless router setttings to WPA/WPA-2 security mode and ALSO get all their other wireless devices (PCs, laptops, WII boxes, ROKU boxes) all reconfigured to WPA mode, too.
I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT APPLE NEEDS TO ADDRESS WITH WEP COMPATIBILITY and it may also be the case that MOST CONSUMERS ARE USING WEP 64 BIT security on their home wireless routers?
In any case, it's working now, so anyone who is having problems should try changing to WPA mode and post back here if it worked for them!

I have a 3rd gen Ipod touch and when i connect it to my Macbook pro to sync it with itunes, it doesn't show up on iTunes. When I connect my iPhone 6 to my computer it syncs, backs up, ect. How do I connect this older iPod to my iTunes?

I have a 3rd gen Ipod touch. When I connect it to my Macbook pro to sync it with itunes, it doesn't show up on iTunes. When I connect my iPhone 6 to my computer it syncs, backs up, ect. How do I make this older iPod show up on my iTunes?

Hi ChristianHelpplz,
Thanks for visiting Apple Support Communities.
It seems like your iPod touch is not recognized by iTunes on your Mac, but your iPhone 6 is working normally.
I recommend starting with these steps to troubleshoot your iPod touch and connection with your Mac:
Check your USB connections
Unplug other USB devices from your Mac and try again.
Try a different USB port.
Try a different USB cable.
Restart your device
Restart your iOS device or reset your iPod.
Restart your Mac
Turn your Mac off and back on.
Update your software
Check for software updates on your Mac.
Check for an iTunes update.
Check your security software
If you have security software installed, learn how to resolve issues between iTunes and your security software.
From:
If you don't see your connected device in iTunes for Mac - Apple Support
If you've tried these steps and your iPod touch is still not recognized, try placing it into Recovery Mode next:
If you can't update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
Sincerely,
Jeremy

IPod Touch (and iPhone) can't find Belkin N Wireless Router

I spent over an hour looking for an answer to this problem today and accidently found a solution - so am posting the answer.
Have a 2 year old Belkin N Wireless Router (model F5D8236-4v1) with SSID broadcasting on and WPA/WPA2-Personal (PSK) security selected.
All the Windows laptops in the house could see the wireless SSID and could successfully log in after entering the WPA/WPA2 password.
Both iPod Touch and iPhone 3GS could NOT see the SSID. Also entering the wireless router IP address directly instead of the SSID did NOT work.
After an hour of looking for solutions on-line, including:
- Tried no security
- Tried WEP 64 and 128 bit security
then stumbled across a thread in a forum where someone referred to changing a "-" (dash) in an SSID name to a character. So tried this.
The old SSID name includes spaces - "name name1 name2". I deleted the spaces, and the problem was solved.
This Belkin router comes with a default name of BelkinN_WirelessXXXXXX, but does not say in the online help to NOT use spaces in the SSID name. And again, the Windows laptops could see the wireless Router while it had the SSID name INCLUDING the spaces in the name.
Hope this saves at least one person going through the same wasted hour.

Click on the blue arrow to the right of the network name, if IP address starts with "169." ,restart your router. It should connect properly after your router reboots in a minute or two.

Hi there, I need help .. I have 2 gen ipod touch and I restore my ipod around 11:00 pm and now its 1:20 am and on my screen its the iTunes logo and the usb cord and when I plug my charger in my laptop .. iTunes comes up and this what it saids "iTunes has

hi there, I need help .. I have 2 gen ipod touch and I restore my ipod around 11:00 pm and now its 1:20 am and on my screen its the iTunes logo and the usb cord and when I plug my charger in my laptop .. iTunes comes up and this what it saids "iTunes has detected an ipod recovery mode. you must restore this ipod before it can be used with iTunes" so what do I do.. do I let my ipod died right out & then try it .. because I restore it ,... it was beening to slow... so please help me ?

Maybe:
Restore loop (being prompted to restore again after a restore successfully completes)
Troubleshoot your USB connection. If the issue persists, out-of-date or incorrectly configured third-party security software may be causing this issue. Please follow Troubleshooting security software issues. .
Next try placing in DFU mode and then restoring.
How to put iPod touch / iPhone into DFU mode « Karthik's scribblings
Then try restoring on another computer.
Last, make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store.
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

I tried synching my 2nd generation ipod touch and it told me to update the software. Then it said "error 37" and could not complete updating but it has left me with an ipod that is not recognised by my pc and wont turn on or anything- just black

I tried synching my 2nd generation ipod touch and it told me to update the software. Then it said "error 37" and could not complete updating but it has left me with an ipod that is not recognised by my pc and wont turn on or anything- just black

Error 20, 21, 34, 37: These errors typically occur when security software interferes with the restore and update process. If you are using a PC, follow this article to resolve this issue.
Above from:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3694
You also may have to place the iPod in recovery mode. For how see:
iPhone and iPod touch: Unable to update or restore

HT201302 When i open up itunes on my computer, it says that i have 2 videos but when i sync it and check my ipod touch, it says i have no videos so it only shows up on my computer but not on my iPod touch and its a 4th Generation.

When i open up itunes on my computer, it says that i have 2 videos but when i sync it and check my ipod touch, it says i have no videos so it only shows up on my computer but not on my iPod touch and its a 4th Generation.

Update Server
Try:
- Powering off and then back on your router.
- iTunes for Windows: iTunes cannot contact the iPhone, iPad, or iPod software update server
- Change the DNS to either Google's or Open DNS servers
Public DNS — Google Developers
OpenDNS IP Addresses
- Try on another computer/network
- Wait if it is an Apple problem

Question about Linksys G Wireless Router and i cant connect my iPod Touch and PSP to it.?

I just got a new Wireless router and it works fine.The model number is WRT54G2. The internet is working and I can go on my xbox live and things like that. The only problem is that my iPod touch and things and my PSP can detect the connection but are unable to join it. Why is this. It was working fine on my previous router. Is there some security thing I have to take off? How do i do this? Thanks in advance

lovemeludo wrote:
Gollum wrote:
From your wired computer, Open setup page of router by typing http://192.168.1.1 in browser’s address bar, and typing password as "admin" and no user name. Goto wireless tab, and wireless security sub tab. Check security key here, and you can disable it as well.
I tried this and it went to a redish gray page that said "401 Unauthorized Authorization required" Help please?
It means you entered the wrong password or username, try some other passwords you might have used if the default admin doesn't work.
"The war between heaven and hell depends on the choices we make, and those choices require sacrifice. That's the test"

Ipod touch and security on public wi-fi

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for