Wireless internet - security issue regarding other network users?

Yes.

When connected to a shared wireless access point, all PCs on the shared wireless access point receive all packets -- incoming and outgoing -- for all of the PCs that are connected to that access point.

If someone desired, he/she could "sniff" everybody's packets, and perhaps learn usernames, passwords, etc.

The only time when this would be difficult or impossible would be when your browser's address bar begins with "https://"/ (the S means Secure) rather than just plain old "http://"./

Certainly plain IM conversations would be easy to capture.

BTW, neither WEP nor WPA encryption, if using PSK, will prevent your colleagues on the wired connection from capturing your packets. WPA *will* prevent non-connected busy-bodies from capturing your packets. WEP can be cracked within ten minutes.

Have a read through these source pages:

Hello,

(ANS) The answer is YES! & NO!, it all depends on how you have the sharing set up?

No.1 If you have a shared connection say with someone else in your house & the sharing is only done through the same router or wireless access point and one BT phone line & if the connection between your PC and the router has encryption enabled (such as using WEP, WPA, or WPA2-PSK) then NO! nobody esle can snoop on your personal data, inc emails etc.

No.2 If the shared connection does not have encryption enabled then YES! that would leave you far far more vulnerable to being hacked by someone else or being snooped up on.

No.3 If you use a wireless router to create a wireless local area network or home network which is to be shared then you definitely would be well advised to enable (switch on) encryption. Encryption is like having your front door closed and bolted from the inside, it shuts out those people who might brake in & rob you but at the same time you can still open your front door as and when you want to.

**"NOT having" encryption is like leaving your front door wide open and flapping in the breeze & with the keys still in the lock. Would you be surprised if someone decided to burgle your house if you left the door open well its the same with wireless internet access, why give someone the chance to rob you?

**Thus having encryption means the burgler will see the door is shut & with a strong lock and so will go else where for easier pickings,etc.

Ivan

Sometimes, if they are a skilled hacker, or if they have installed monitoring software on your PC (e.g. VNC). But in most cases, now.

If you are concerned about this, I would start by enabling Windows Firewall. Next, I would secure your wireless network by enabling WEP or WPA security on it.

Yes, it's possible...but I would hope you trust them enough if you're sharing the network with them...

I should point out it's not as simple as just reading everything - they would be capturing packets and then decoding/analizing them to see what information they contain.

Only if they hack into that PC. I use wireless, but I can't see what they are doing on the other PC - I don't try. It is possible, but it would mean them hacking it, which isn't easy unless you know what you are doing

If this is a connection you set up, password protect it. If this is not a connection you set up, do you have permission to use it? Apparently using a connection that you do not have permission to use now counts as theft.

The only way, besides hacking, for them to see that stuff is if you grant them permission to access it.

Anyone can, on your network or off it. But people with the expertise to do it usually have better things to do.

hackers keyloggers

No- unless they have your password(s) and usernames