unsecured broadband and privacy: please hijack

[ZJonathan]

I am currently using a broadband connection that is unsecured. Generally I would not do this, however, it is a DSL or T1 line, and I have not had my internet installed yet. My concern is that I use my credit card number, and look up private information when using this network. Is the information I am viewing and sending over the internet going to be compromised? Passwords, what I google, card numbers etc... I have an idea that this person is technically savvy, because he will throttle his connection, etc...

Please any advice would be nice, I am under the impression my information is easily accessible to this person am I wrong?

It is a linksys router

[YARDofSTUF]

If its a technically savvy person then it could be that he is using the connection to attract freelaoders and so he could be logging info or planning to attack your PC.

Or me might be lazy or not as tech savvy as you think. Its a risk any time you steal bandwidth like that.

[YeOldeStonecat]

You are dialing into someone elses unsecured network that you know nothing about. So...."anything is possible". You can "guess" all you want..you can have people guess for you all they want.

But the bottom line..."you just don't know"..since you don't know their abilities, etc etc.

It is possible for them to sniff your traffic. Some of your traffic is wide open, your PC is also exposed the very second you join their network..so not only is your traffic exposed...but your PC itself.

If it's a plain home grade Linksys router with stock firmware...I doubt they're throttling their connection..but more likely either the signal strength going in and out on your..and/or the router itself coming under load from their stuff..and/or other neighbors latching on.