Privacy on public wireless network

what can i do to keep my personal information and passwords protected when using a public wireless network? what settings should i use?
i'm still new to macs so the basics and step by step instructions would be great.
thx.

Regardless the platform - OS X or Windows, you need to assume anything sent out over a wireless network is being intercepted in transit (which is always a possibility) regardless if access to the wireless network is password protected/encrypted or not and act accordingly.
As far as someone gaining access to your computer when connected to a public wireless network or to any network, you need to keep the built-in Firewall included with OS X enabled and don't enable any ports or services not needed such as Windows File Sharing and Personal File Sharing, etc.
Go to System Preferences > Sharing to be sure the Firewall is enabled and check for any ports or services that are enabled but not being used.

Similar Messages

Using public wireless network, security settings?

Hi there,
I'm a new Mac user. If I'm using my MacBook Pro on a public wireless network, do I need to change any security settings to prevent other users from accessing my documents/hard drive etc?
Thanks in advance.
M.

Yes turn of guest access to your computer in the accounts preference pane.
Turn off any sharing protocols you may have enabled in your sharing preference pane.
In the security preference pane click on the firewall tab and set access for specific services.
Also when using public wifi it is a good idea not to use email or connect to any online banks etc.

IPad protection on public wireless network?

Is there any protection on iPad to prevent someone from accessing my data on a public wireless network? I know not to enter a credit card number in public, but what about the email password that is already saved there?

On an open wireless network, anyone on that network can capture the network traffic and see any clear-text data. Your e-mail password is safe IF you've got things set up to connect via SSL. Go to Settings -> Mail, Contacts, Calendars, then select the account. Edit the account, tap the Advanced button, and make sure Use SSL is turned on.
That protects your password, but note that the contents of any messages you send and receive are, and always have been, plain text send in the clear. So don't send anything sensitive via e-mail. That's good advice in general, but especially relevant on an open wireless network.
Beyond that, nobody can remotely hack your iPad and get access to the data on it. It's just the data you're sending and receiving you've got to worry about it.

Blank window when connecting to public wireless network

I'm having trouble connecting my Macbook Pro to the wireless network at my folks' nursing home. The MBP can see the private and public networks, but when I try to connect to the public network, a blank window pops up - no text or buttons. My nephew's Windows laptop connects with no problems. I'm running 10.7 (Lion). Any ideas?

A guess would be that your university uses a different encryption than your home wireless and that your driver has problems with that. If you search this bbs with your driver's name (and that encryption), you will also encounter a number of freeze problems when using newer kernels. However, those drivers and kernels move quick, so if you see an error in a post from 2 months ago, the error might have vanished already.
Second, you should find out the card you are using with
lspci -nn | grep Realtek

Can't connect to an public wireless network

Hello,
I'm having trouble connecting to my college's wireless network. I've connected to it before. It loads a sign in page for you to login with your school ID . Since last week, I can see the network in my airport with full bars. The login page does not load and it says im not connected to the Internet. I've also put in the login page URL but that does not load either. The college's IT guy says he has seen this problems many times with macs this semester only. He said it might had been affected by a recent update.
I can connect to my wireless network at my house and also at my parents so I don't understand why I can't connect! Also , the login page loads on my iPhone.
Thanks to anyone with any answers!

I have talked to other Mac and window users who were online.. So I'm not sure why I can't connect! The tech guy told me to make sure that my mac wasnt remembering my wifi settings

MacBook not connecting to public wireless network

So I have had this MacBook for 3 years now, and I have always been able to connect to my wireless network at work, which is password free.
But over the past few days, my MacBook has not been able to connect, have tried everything I know( not a computer whiz,but can survive)
I have gone on network diagnostics, and all the icons on the left panel( airport, airport settings, network settings, ISP, Internet, server) are all red instead of green.
I can still connect to my home network.
Please. Need your help.
Ps: my workplace network administrator has not made an new changes to the network.
Thanx

Hi, I had the same problem : airport was not automatically connecting to the previous network.
After browsing a while on the forums I came to think that the solution was to start all over from the begining. So I deleted the information mac os has from my network (ssid + wep key). After inputing it again the issue was gone.
More precisely I gone to system prefs, then to network prefs, then to airport prefs. Then I chose "by default, connect to prefered network". Then I deleted my prefered network. After that I desactivated airport, reactivated it and inputed my settings.
hope that'll help

Why is my laptop only connecting to the base station at home and not other wireless networks?

I can't connect to public wireless networks. I connect to my work wireless through 802.1X connection, but in other places my wifi just looks for the base station, and doesn't pickup available public guest networks. Any assistance is appreciated!

Back up all data before making any changes.
Step 1
Take all the applicable steps in this support article.
Step 2
If you're running OS X 10.8.4 or later, run Wireless Diagnostics and take the remedial steps suggested in the summary that appears, if any. The program also generates a large file of information about your system, which would be used by Apple Engineering in case of a support incident. Don't post the contents here.
Step 3
If you're not using a wireless keyboard or trackpad, disable Bluetooth by selecting Turn Bluetooth Off from the menu with the Bluetooth icon. If you don't have that menu, open the Bluetooth preference pane in System Preferences and check the box marked Show Bluetooth in menu bar. Test. Continue if you find that Wi-Fi is faster with Bluetooth disabled.
From that same menu, select Open Bluetooth Preferences. If the box labeled Discoverable is checked, uncheck it. Click the Advanced button, and in the sheet that opens, uncheck the top three boxes, if any are checked. Click OK. Enable Bluetooth and test again.
If the application called "Bluetooth Setup Assistant" is running, quit it.
Step 4
This step will erase all your settings in the Network preference pane. Make a note of them before you begin, and recreate them afterwards. It may be helpful to take screenshots of the preference pane.
Triple-click the line below on this page to select it:
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration
Right-click or control-click the highlighted line and select
Services ▹ Reveal
from the contextual menu.* A folder should open with an item named "SystemConfiguration" selected. Move the selected item to the Trash. You may be prompted for your administrator password.
*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C). In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar, paste into the box that opens (command-V). You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.
Step 5
Reset the System Management Controller.
Step 6
Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service center.
Back up all data on the internal drive(s) before you hand over your computer to anyone. There are ways to back up a computer that isn't fully functional — ask if you need guidance.
If privacy is a concern, erase the data partition(s) with the option to write zeros* (do this only if you have at least two complete, independent backups, and you know how to restore to an empty drive from any of them.) Don’t erase the recovery partition, if present.
Keeping your confidential data secure during hardware repair
*An SSD doesn't need to be zeroed.

Strange - Home wireless network ok, no access Public networks

Ok, I'm not getting this, and I've been around computers for some time.
Got my B570 'round September last year. Worked great on home wireless network ( Brighthouse networks in Florida, with Ubee Wireless modem running Lightning or 40mb.)
Had to move to new place offering a house offering of wifi, had a bear getting that up, but finally did.
Here's the q, and I've seen this on an HP laptop running Vista, but that one died and I got this one.
Go to Starbucks, Panera's, Dennys or just about any other public place, and I can see the routers and even connect, but can't get anywhere on the internet. I get either a limited or no internet, or identifying, but that's it. I know that their router is working because i can make the wifi connection on my phone and browse no problem, and I see other patrons with different computers logged in at the same time.
McDonalds, I can get in, and soon as the network connection comes up, browser will pop up and allow me to accept McD's access rights page and I can connect. I know that Denny's has one too, but it doesnt pop up, and ( I know that this will sometimes happen too ) if I try to connect to a website, sometimes the local accept page will pop up, but usually not for me.
I have Google Chrome as my primary web browser, but even if I try to bring up via IE, no go.
I can connect to the internet via my droid phone usb wired or just wireless, but don't like that to be a regular solution.
I've already tried to update the wireless driver ( Broadcomm ), but computer tells me that i'm up to date. Enabled then re enabled. Flush DNS didn't help either, ipconfig / release and renew didn't do it either. Using Comodo Internet Security, and turned it off, even exited out of program and that didn't help either.
Today was an interesting day. went to Denny's thinking I'd get some work done, and couldn't get logged in. Went to Fedex Store to get some printing done, and logged in right away. Came home and can log into the communities public ( fee based ) network and can log right in. Looked in my bag and found a usb wifi dongle I had used for the HP when the wifi on it died out, but didn't try that yet. I'd rather not, I'd rather find out why the wifi on this laptop seems to be finiky with who's networks I'm using.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Ron V.
Lenovo B570 - 4 G Ram, 500 G H/D
Windows 7 Home Premium 64b

hi Ronjie,
The issue you're facing is a very strange issue. From what i gather ist begging to choose the network it wants to work with. I may need more time to look inot his to see if it is a harware issue. But i would like to try something though. You may want to uncheck the IPV6 in ur Wireless network properties.
To do that you will have to go to your "Network sharing centre" > Click on "Change adapter settings" on the left hand panel > Highlight "Wireless network Connection" > Right Click "Wireless network Connection" and select on "Properties". Be sure to uncheck the "Internet protocol version 6 (TCP/IPV6)". Then click on and try to reconnect.
Let me know how it goes..
Regards

How to use Airport Extreme to create a second wireless network with different IP addresses behind an existing modem/router?

Hi,
I have an existing modem/router from my ISP that does DHCP and NAT with base IP 192.168.1.1 distributed in the wireless network. I use this wireless network for our private devices. I could turn off the DHCP server in this first router, but there isn't a separate setting to turn off NAT.
I want to connect my Airport Extreme (4th gen) to this existing router to create a separate wireless network for visiting guests, where IP addresses of 10.0.0.0 etc. are used. So I do not want to use the Airport Extreme in bridge mode, as I would like to keep the devices on the first network 'invisible' for those on the second network. (P.S. when connected in bridge mode, the Airport works well and can distribute a network with a different name from the first. It's just that I would feel more comfortable about our privacy if the Airport were to distribute a different IP range. False security, maybe?)
I've tried doing this by 'Sharing a public IP address' in Airport Utility's Internet tab, leaving TCP/IP's setting to 'via DHCP', setting DHCP addresses to start with 10.0.0.2 up to 200 with all else blank, and not using a standard host nor NAT-PMP in the NAT tab.
When I do this the Airport complains of a 'double NAT issue'. Internet connectivity seems to be OK, but when switching between the two networks on my Mac I get complaints about my IP address being in use by another device intermittently.
Can anyone help in how to get the 'double NAT issue' resolved?
Thanks!

So if someone is connected to the modem/router network they will be able to see the HD I will have put in to the AirPort Extreme?
As I said above.....since the modem/router and AirPort are bridged, devices on the modem/router wireless will be able to "see" devices on the AirPort wireless, and vice versa.....
If they can see the HD connected to the AirPort Extreme, will they be able to access it
Yes, unless you plan to password protect the drive connected to the AirPort Extreme.
or will they still need the password needed to get onto the AirPort Extreme network?
The modem/router and AirPort Extreme are bridged. They are on the same network. All devices are on the same network when the modem/router and AirPort are bridged. Not sure how else that I can say this.
Also, because it is bridged, I shouldn't have any problems accessing the HD I will have connected to the AirPort Extreme from an external location?
Accessing devices from a remote location is never easy....and a topic for a different post/discussion. If you have a "static" Internet IP address from your provider, and have all the details on how to forward ports on your modem/router, you are off to a good start.
Apparently there is some addressing issues because devices can be seen as "Double IP" because the modem/router would have allocated IP's as well as the AirPort allocating IP's thus making connections slower until resolved
When you "bridge", all IP addresses are issued by one device. There will be no conflicts on the network, since they are bridged.
Once again, in very simple terms, you have two doors (access points) that open into the same room (network). One "door" is the modem/router and the other "door" is the AirPort Extreme. They are on the same network....("room") because they are bridged.

I'm unable to browse the internet at home on my Macbook Pro (10.6.3), even though it shows I am connected to the wireless network with full bars.

This problem began weeks ago, when I suddenly couldn't browse the Internet at home despite being fully connected to the network. The network was a private, password-protected wireless network set up through a Netgear router.
I have spent hours troubleshooting and have tried multiple fixes including resetting PRAM, deleting and re-creating Airport, deleting and re-creating networks, changing IP and DNS, etc. to no avail. My roommate's PC works perfectly fine on the same wireless network.
This seems to be an issue with networks I use long-term. I can connect fine to networks at Starbucks, etc. for short-term use. Also, while trying to troubleshoot my connection issues on my home network over the last few weeks, I'd been using my apartment complex's public wireless connection (no password) with no issues. All of a sudden, I am having the same exact issue with that network. It's like something just snaps and maybe gets configured wrong after a few weeks or months of use.
I am desperate to find a fix, since now I can't use the internet AT ALL while at home and need it for work.
Thank you in advance for your help!

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
The purpose of this exercise is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:
Be sure your Mac is shut down.
Press the power button.
Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).
Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem(s)?
After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode.)

How do I set up a wireless network at home??

Hi,
I am new to Mac's. I want to set up a wireless network at home, but I have not got a clue about AirPort, what it is or what it does!?! I am getting a new Mac, but my wife is currently using a Dell Windows laptop and our daughter is using a Windows PC. How do I set up a wireless broadband network at home which works with my Mac and my familys PC's? What do I need to buy and what do I need to do with them? I already have a broadband connection at home. Currently, my wife's PC is connected directly to the broadband modem (via an ethernet cable) that was supplied by the brodband company when I signed up to broadband.
Thanks for all your help with this.

scooter has provided links to Apple's pages for the AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS).
Both of these devices are IEEE 802.11g wireless routers (also called base stations). If you have an Ethernet connection to the Internet (for example DSL or cable modem), you can connect either of these devices directly to that connection and create a wireless network. Since Ethernet and IEEE 802.11g are worldwide standards you can connect any compatible device (including PCs running Windows).
Every computer needs a unique IP address. You can think of an IP address as a street address for your house. A unique address guarantees that items addressed to you get to you.
Typically ISPs provide users with a single (one) public IP address. A public IP address is visible to anyone on the Internet. A router uses the single IP address provided by the ISP and creates multiple local (non-public) IP addresses for you computers. This allows you to use multiple computers.
If you need to connect both wireless and Ethernet computers you will need the AEBS. The AEBS provides a separate LAN port for Ethernet computers.
BTW, you can accomplish the same thing with any inexpensive wireless router.
The advantage of the AEBS over other routers is (a) built-in 56k modem for connecting to a dial-up ISP and (b) USB port for a single compatible printer.
The advantage of the AirPort Express over other routers is (a) sound output port for streaming music to a stereo and (b) USB port for a single compatible printer.

Unable to connect to home wireless network with my iPod touch

I've had my iTouch for several months now and I'm still not able to connect to my wireless network at home. I've tried the resets and other suggestions I've found in the discussion groups but nothing has worked.
I have an older Netgear Router MR814v2 and it is unsecured. It is attached to my old desktop, HP Pavilion running Windows ME, which is not able to run the itunes software. My HP laptop is where my iTouch and iTunes software is installed.
The iTouch displays my network with good signal strength, but when I try to connect I get the "unable to join the network "NETGEAR".
Going to my router, it does not recognize my iTouch as an attached device. Why is that and what am I missing?
Thank you for all suggestions and your help.

I tried powering down the router. When it's off the iTouch does not recognize the network and then when it's powered on again, the iTouch recognizes the network. Unlike the public wi-fi spots that my iTouch responds to, where all the info like IP Address, Subnet Mask, Router, DNS etc are populated in the settings...my iTouch does not populate these fields at home even though it recognizes the network. I still get the unable to connect to network error. Could it be that my router is antiquated and can not support the iTouch? Like I said earlier, my Router does not recognize the iTouch as being attached to it.

HP Officejet Pro 8620 (Wireless Network) will not install on Win8. 1

Today I received my new HP Officejet 8620 PRO printer. I have setup Wireless Network access, and installed the Driver successfully on my Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit PC, and tried to do the same on my Acer Win8.1 Laptop. During the installation, it finds the Printer on the network at the correct IP Address (192.168.178.48) and goes as far as a dialog showing "Network Printer Installation" with a Green progress bar cycling but never progressing ... I have left it be for over 45 minutes, and have tried to cancel the installation, with the same problem. Now the setup is jammed, and cannot progress. Suggestions please!!! Not sure what more relevant information is required ... so I'm open to questions ... which I'll try and answer ... or (preferably) suggestions on how to fix this. Many Thanks for your anticipated support. p.s. HP ... I find it ridiculous that I can buy a brand new printer and yet have to revert to Public Forums to beg help! (or pay an exhorbent extra fee to get telephone support)

I would suggest cancelling the installation and then download the diagnostics at http://www.hp.com/go/tools. The tools there may help diagnose system issues, if nothing is found I would suggest running the driver wizard. Depending on your country the warranty would typically be one year from date of purchase. Likely if you were charged (or an attempt made to charge you) for support on a new printer you were not contacting HP. Unfortunately an internet search for "HP Support" will turn up a number of locations that may pretend to be HP but are not. The diagnosis there is typically "you have malware or a virus, we can fix that but it will cost $149" (or perhaps $349 for a lifetime). I once gave one of these folks access to a dummy test machine, after an hour accessing my system and suggesting various fixes I made it clear that I would not be buying anything from them. At this point they attempted to encrypt my system drive (after warning me that if I did not buy their product my system would likely be unusable). Fortunately the system was set up to require an admin password to install programs or do "bad" things.... If you need to contact HP start at the link here: http://www.hp.com/contacthp/

How to work on iMac files from a new Macbook over home wireless network

Hi,
A quick question for anyone who can help. Most of the time I work on my iMac G5. But I've now also got a MacBook, and I want to be able to use that as much as possible (ie not having to be at my desk upstairs at all times).
What I need help with is file sharing. I know that I need to put files into the iMac's public folder for them to be accessible on the MacBook over my wireless network. What I'm not sure, and want to check before doing anything drastic in case I cause unintended problems, is whether there are limits of any sort on what can/should be put in the public folder.
For example, can I just drag my whole Documents folder (or my Work folder within it, about 0.5GB worth) into the Public folder? Would that then mean that I can access all my Work files from either machine?
Apologies if this is a non-query - if it is as simple as just dragging as much or as little as I want into the Public folder. I had just assumed that I'd be able to mark files/folders that I wanted to be visible/sharable over the network - and am a bit wary about shifting the locations on my iMac of huge numbers of my files.
A final follow-on query. I'd ilke to use the DVD burner on the MacBook to back-up my iTunes library (which, again, is on my iMac). Would this again be a matter of relocating the library (even temporarily) in the Public Folder so that the MacBook can see it and back it up?
Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance....

On the iMac - Turn on Personal File Sharing
On the MacBook - In the Finder, click on "Go", then "Connect to Server...", then type in the address of the iMac (you can find this at the bottom of the "Personal File Sharing" window on the iMac).
Click on "Connect" and enter your account name and password for the iMac.
You should get a list of available items to access, at a minimum your home directory (you don't have to use the Public shared folder). If you use Admin credentials, you can mount the hard drive and access the programs you have on the iMac and run them from the MacBook - not all programs will work this way but most of the ones I use work.

Creating a Separate Wireless Network With no Ethernet

Hello-
I am attempting to set-up my Airport Express with my receiver and speakers in order to play music wirelessly. I have successfully done so when I choose "Join an Existing Wireless network", but I have noticed that this bogs down my wi-fi network speeds tremendously.
So, instead, I attempted setting-up the Airport Express as its own wireless network in order to bypass my DSL-based, wi-fi network completely. But, when doing so, I am being forced to connect to my DSL via ethernet.
Is there a way arpund this? Or, is there a way to stream music via the airport express in a way that won't interfere with my DSL wi-fi network (or affect its speed)?
Thanks in advance!

The AirPort Express Base Station (AX) does NOT require an Internet connection in order for it to provide a standalone wireless network for streaming.
The AX would not get a Public IP address, but it would have a Private IP address of 10.0.1.1 ... and it would be providing wireless clients connected to it with Private IP addresses in the 10.0.1.2 - 10.0.1.200 range.
I just verified that this works. Please double-check your settings to see if you may have missed something.
AirPort Utility > Select the AX > Manual Setup > AirPort > Wireless
Wireless Mode: Create a wireless network
Wireless Network Name: <enter a desired Network Name or SSID>
Radio Mode: <leave the default or select a desired radio mode>
Channel: Automatic
Wireless Security: <select the desired wireless security type>
Internet > Internet Connection
Connect Using: Ethernet
Connection Sharing: Distribute a range of IP addresses
Internet > TCP/IP
Configure IPv4: Manually
IP Address: 10.0.1.1
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Router Address: 10.0.1.1
DNS Server(s): <leave blank>
Domain Name: <leave blank>
Internet > DHCP
DHCP Beginning Address: <leave default or change to a desired starting address>
DHCP Ending Address: <leave default or change to a desired ending address>
Music
Enable AirTunes (checked>
iTunes Speaker Name: <leave default or enter a desired speaker name>
Advanced > Logging & Statistics
Allow SNMP (unchecked)
Your AX will still report at least three errors: 1) Configuration of WAN, 2) SNMP over WAN, and 3) Double NAT. These can all be safely ignored to stop the AX's status light from flashing amber in this configuration.

Privacy on public wireless network

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