On Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 10:12 AM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi all.
>
> In light of recent list spam, an FYI. It's travel season, so posted
> sooner than later. Not being teachers pet, but please lets not let
> this thread balloon out of whack.
>
> BBC video via MSN (with 30" ad) showing "hacker" easily hopping aboard
> ones Facebook or similar account while they log in (or just use?) via
> unsecured Wi-Fi:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/3jf3ses
>
> Speculation: could be done automatically by "bot" or similar? IF so,
> would happen with lightning speed.
>
> A business or similar doing this would likely be in serious trouble if
> caught, (so why would they bother?) but for a lap top toting
> individual sitting near you.....
>
> I don't know how well "private browsing" or equal (a selectable
> setting in your web browser) works to stop this. From what little I
> know, I DON'T think it would.
>
> Wikipedia link on Firesheep used by the "hacking" tech in the video:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firesheep
>
> Neil.
>
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>

  I heard about this happening in the small town in California where we've
spent some winter months.  A very small remote desert town where visitors
often use the Wi-Fi signal of a California county library to acces their
mail or to conduct business.  I was told that people's computers have been
hacked there,  by others, sitting in RVs out in the parking lot...there are
many who're really quite desperate and almost penniless, living 'rough' but
hanging by a thread now a days.  I'd see them often in seedy old junker cars
or RVs....(hey, that was me! grin)

  When using a public signal, I use Gmail and keep a close watch on my
'account activity' shown on the bottom of the gmail screens.  I don't leave
my computer online when it is not being used, if I am using a public signal.