Sunnely Loc: Wisconsin

In recent years, the internet itself has gotten more secure. So have your devices and the networks themselves. It's still true that logging on to a public Wi-Fi incurs certain security and privacy risks - but they're generally the same ones you encounter anytime you're online, at least in the U.S. Connecting to networks comes with different risks in different countries.

With the following simple tips, feel free to hop on the network whenever you find yourself killing time on a layover or waiting for food at MacDonald's.

Wi-Fi, Wi Not?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Good advice.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I would never wait for food at a McDonalds!!

smf85 Loc: Freeport, IL

A few more thoughts:

The lock or HTTPS is always good to check for - if you click on the lock (Safari) and then click on show certificate you'll the security information and who issued it. The procedure of the other browsers is similar. The name in the security information should match the name in the address bar up to the first slash.

If you are outside of US/CA/EU/JA/AU then the cell phone carrier data service should be treated as untrustworthy as the Hotel WAN. Meaning its no better. Possibly worse in some places.

VPN - virtual private network - provides good end-to-end encryption until the VPN exit point (usually US/EU....). However there is a growing trend to prohibit the a VPN connection. There are ways around this though so when you get your VPN software look for info on how to get around the block.

Avoid phishing attempts - don't click on email links to Banks, Financial Institutions, Insurance, or anything else uses a Userid & password for access. Ever. This is one of the easiest ways to compromise a system.

A password manager is highly convenient, unfortunately if you computer is compromised so are all your accounts. If you want to use a password manager whole disk encryption is suggested. There are very good open-source/freeware & paid versions out there including native ones from Apple and Microsoft.

Having multiple different passwords is the most secure. But is a pain to maintain. I suggest one password for your financial institution another for anything that has your credit card # on file and a third for everything else. Change the one for financial institutions regularly.

Having a second email address is useful.

cascoly Loc: seattle

I use a simple way to create unique passwords:

[unique word] + [site] + [ number & spec char]

so a series would be

appleUHH123?

appleFACEBOOK123?

appletTWITTER123?

….

therwol Loc: USA

The reason for this is that people go overseas and watch streaming TV and other content that is only licensed in their home country. The VPN only shows the provider the country you're connecting to. I think it's pretty outrageous that you can pay for HBO and other premium channels and have them blocked if you hop over to Europe. After all, you PAID for the service and are a resident of your home country.

I had great success when the company I worked for had a robust VPN system in place. I could connect to their concentrator in California and watch any US TV networks I had a subscription to. When I retired, I tried NordVPN without much success. The connection, no matter where I tried, was unreliable, and the bandwidth was very limited.

juan_uy Loc: Uruguay

With this "technique" (as you show it at least, using alwasy the same unique workd and number and spec char) is someone obtains your Facebook password, would be very easy to know your Twitter one and so on.

cascoly Loc: seattle

you get exactly what you paid for -- by the ToS you agreed when you joined that you would only be able to use the service in the US. similarly, you're not allowed to re-sell content

cascoly Loc: seattle

ONLY if the hacker suspects those symbols are constant - and few hacks are by individuals on indiv accts - in the mass hacks of millions of IDs no one is even looking at indiv passwords

therwol Loc: USA

I've been thinking about this for a couple of days. Where is the ToS? I got Xfinity recently with all of the premium channels. I basically got a bill. I signed off on the equipment that was left in my house. I sign onto the Xfinity streaming site, and I can watch anything I find just by clicking on it. I can also watch anything on my DVR, since it's in the cloud and not on a machine in my home.

But not overseas.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

I wonder how many people use password for their password??

therwol Loc: USA

How many idiots are there in the world? Same question.

cascoly Loc: seattle

you accepted TS at some point in signing up.

https://forums.xfinity.com/t5/Stream-TV-App/How-do-I-watch-my-xfinity-in-Europe/td-p/2914893