Granted, public wi-fi is a very convenient and valuable thing to have, it is just not a good idea to enter any sensitive information whatsoever when you are using one. By ’sensitive information’, I mean everything from online bank credentials to even accessing your email. With the sophistication of eavesdropping tools widely available, it seems like anyone can learn how to wirelessly eavesdrop on other people nowadays. Just remember the pendulum of convenience and functionality versus security. When it comes to public wi-fi, the pendulum dramatically sways in convenience’s favor…

BOSTON –Computer security experts don’t appear to be gaining ground on electronic eavesdroppers in the battle to safeguard wireless Internet connections, the head of Harvard University’s network operations told a nationwide legislative conference Tuesday.

That means investment in public Wi-Fi projects could end up putting masses of sensitive data such as credit card numbers in the wrong hands if public users aren’t educated about the risks of using such networks.

“It’s extremely convenient, but it’s inherently insecure,” Harvard’s Jay Tumas told state government information technology specialists at a National Conference of State Legislatures session on Wi-Fi risks. “If you don’t protect your network, then public Wi-Fi is just one big security risk.”[more]

Tags: Wireless Security