So, when you say I need to log on to the wireless hot-spot - how do I do that? what username password do I use?

Also - is my traffic secure? Like - can anyone nearby "sniff" my bits and bobs as they travel from my device to the wireless device?

What about the wireless device - is anyone monitoring the traffic going through that? For example - would I be totally safe and secure doing online banking via my iPhone through a Wi-Fi hot spot?


Ang
(another wi-fi hotspot virgin)

Hey - thanks for asking all these questions! I've learnt a lot from this thread already!! Didn't know any of this stuff!!! I've got Airport at home but have never had a 3G/whatever mobile ... but I'm sure I'm going to succomb to the iPhone at some point!!

The Telstra hotspots are open - you just find it in your wi-fi access point list and connect. It won't prompt you for authentication. However, it will automatically take you to a portal page when you try access a website - it will give you info on how much it costs and lets you sign up for access.

The Telstra hotspots I've seen have no security at all, so don't use it for anything important I guess. Even if it did have security, it's easily broken. Someone can use a packet sniffer and see traffic go across - any un-encrypted passwords will be seen (like logging into MSN messenger). Logging into a bank website is encrypted, so while they'd see you're accessing anz.com.au - they wouldn't see your password as that's encrypted by the bank.

I wouldn't do it personally. If the wi-fi hotspot is public, I'd just wait until you get home, or use your 3G connection (more difficult to tap into than wi-fi)

I've used the telstra wi-fi hot spot's a fair bit and find them quite reliable and reasonably quick. It will be cool to have free access to them from iPhone!

is that t00l compatible with other ISP also?

Thanks for the advice Decryption - doing online banking is my "test" to determine what I'm prepared to do via a wi-fi hot spot, and what can wait for the privacy of my home - behind closed doors

So, lots of googling and emailing, but nothing where I am going to have to enter a password that I don't want cracked is my starting point....

Ang

Here's my dumb question for the week - if you turn the wifi option on can you still receive phone calls?

Yes, they are completely separate.

Cool. Thanks for that.

These forums require a password, and i'd be happy to forum browse on my iphone. Same with checking email, as it's build in.

Ebay have provided an app, so i'm happy with that, and my Bank (Suncorp) has just launched a Mobile Specific version of their site so you can internet bank form your mobile.

So any dumb posts to these forums after 11 July from "Angsty" are obviously *not* from the "real" me

Just iiNet. For other ISPs, you will need to find your own widget/app that does this.

I have just found a price guide from Telstra for their hotspots. It is approx 20¢ a minute or you can get a day pass for $27.50. It says that you can't use it with a Telstra pre-paid phone, post-paid only!

Telstra Wireless Hotspot - Pricing


And here is a spreadsheet of the hotspot locations around OZ
Telstra Wireless Hotspot - Locations

Safari can’t open the page.
Safari could not open the page “http://www.telstra.com.au/wirelessho...locations.htm” because the server is not responding.

Welcome to Telstra.....

Ha Ha Ha. That is why I use Firefox