How dangerous is this on the internet?

My internet connection went out and takes such a long time to come back. So I connected to another wireless network that didn't need a security key. A message said that this network and my information is not secure, etc?





How bad is this? What could possibly happen? What should I NOT do online while connected to this network such as log into my mail, log into websites, use credit/debit card/buy and pay for items online, etc.How dangerous is this on the internet?
Well, since you know nothing of the network you are connecting to and are, most likely, violating the law by doing so, you definately use this at your own risk. You just don't know what the person who is hosting the access point you are using is doing as far as monitoring.





Now, the odds are you just so happened to find the WiFi signal of a neighbor who doesn't know better to encrypt their access point. In this case your data transfers are safe... if the owner doesn't know enough to close their access point they certainly have no idea you are on it... much less have the expertise to capture your data as it passes through their router.





Using someone's access point, even one that is sitting there unprotected, is still illegal and amounts to theft. If that person were ever to become aware that you were using their wireless without permission they could try to press charges against you for theft of service. Again, the odds are good that they will never realize this is the case... but you can't be 100% certain.





Of course, all this changes if the ';unprotected'; WiFi signal you've latched on to is being provided, on purpose, by someone who is looking for people to stumble on, and use, this open access point. If that is the case you could be falling right into their trap! Any data you send over an unencrypted WiFi signal can be recorded; your credit card info, your personal data, etc. can all be monitored and and stolen. In fact, you don't even need to enter any of this information yourself. Your computer, as part of their network, would be an easy target for any decent hacker to break into; they could steal anything they want right off your own hard drive!





To answer your question, ';How bad is this?'; Ethically, it is very bad since you are stealing from someone. As far as security goes, it all depends on who's service you're stealing from... but know that anything you send over an unencrypted connection is wide open for stealing... as is your computer on the unsecured network.





Bottom line... use at your own risk.How dangerous is this on the internet?
I had a similar problem with my Comcast connection about eighteen months ago. Worked with the ISP and they determined it was my modem. They gave me a new modem and not only did the problem disappear, but my connection speed greatly improved, probably because the modem didn't create errors that forced data to be retransmitted.





Good luck.