Remote Desktop Over Public Wi-Fi?

[Jerry]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.work_remotely (More info?)

Is it safe to use Remote Desktop Connection on a public wi-fi network? The
RDC is secure, so no one would be able to see the passwords I'm typing in or
anything like that, right? I ask because I often surf at a cafe with free
wi-fi, but I hesitate to make credit card purchases or even log on to my home
desktop remotely because I don't want anyone snooping my passwords.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.work_remotely (More info?)

jerry wrote:
> Is it safe to use Remote Desktop Connection on a public wi-fi
> network? The RDC is secure, so no one would be able to see the
> passwords I'm typing in or anything like that, right? I ask because
> I often surf at a cafe with free wi-fi, but I hesitate to make credit
> card purchases or even log on to my home desktop remotely because I
> don't want anyone snooping my passwords.

There is no way for you to be 100% sure it's secure. Or us, given that you
don't mention what kind of security they have on the wireless.

 

[Jerry]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.work_remotely (More info?)

Sorry, when I said free wifi, that meant there was no encryption whatsoever.
In fact, it's still set at the default lynksis settings.

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

> jerry wrote:
> > Is it safe to use Remote Desktop Connection on a public wi-fi
> > network? The RDC is secure, so no one would be able to see the
> > passwords I'm typing in or anything like that, right? I ask because
> > I often surf at a cafe with free wi-fi, but I hesitate to make credit
> > card purchases or even log on to my home desktop remotely because I
> > don't want anyone snooping my passwords.
>
> There is no way for you to be 100% sure it's secure. Or us, given that you
> don't mention what kind of security they have on the wireless.
>
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.work_remotely (More info?)

You should assume that someone is looking over your shoulder when using
public access facilities like public wi-fi or hotel network access
arrangements. Turn on the Windows Firewall and set it to "no exceptions."

That keeps folks out of your machine.

Then, make sure that what you do that is sensitive, is done via encrypted
connections. HTTPS, for sensitive web transactions, for example.

RDP is encrypted, including the authentication process. For slightly
improved security, use a VPN connection, ideally an IPSEC VPN, and do the
RDP within the VPN.

However--the RDP by itself is, by default with XP, Windows 2000 SP4, and
Windows Server 2003--encrypted with RC4 encryption with a 128 bit key
strength--the same encryption as a PPTP VPN connection, for example.



"jerry" <jerry@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5C532386-42E2-4B47-B562-4D06706D263D@microsoft.com...
> Is it safe to use Remote Desktop Connection on a public wi-fi network?
> The
> RDC is secure, so no one would be able to see the passwords I'm typing in
> or
> anything like that, right? I ask because I often surf at a cafe with free
> wi-fi, but I hesitate to make credit card purchases or even log on to my
> home
> desktop remotely because I don't want anyone snooping my passwords.

 

[Jerry]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.work_remotely (More info?)

I see. Thank you. I didn't realize that even the authentication was
encrypted. That's good to know.

"Bill Sanderson" wrote:

> You should assume that someone is looking over your shoulder when using
> public access facilities like public wi-fi or hotel network access
> arrangements. Turn on the Windows Firewall and set it to "no exceptions."
>
> That keeps folks out of your machine.
>
> Then, make sure that what you do that is sensitive, is done via encrypted
> connections. HTTPS, for sensitive web transactions, for example.
>
> RDP is encrypted, including the authentication process. For slightly
> improved security, use a VPN connection, ideally an IPSEC VPN, and do the
> RDP within the VPN.
>
> However--the RDP by itself is, by default with XP, Windows 2000 SP4, and
> Windows Server 2003--encrypted with RC4 encryption with a 128 bit key
> strength--the same encryption as a PPTP VPN connection, for example.
>
>
>
> "jerry" <jerry@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:5C532386-42E2-4B47-B562-4D06706D263D@microsoft.com...
> > Is it safe to use Remote Desktop Connection on a public wi-fi network?
> > The
> > RDC is secure, so no one would be able to see the passwords I'm typing in
> > or
> > anything like that, right? I ask because I often surf at a cafe with free
> > wi-fi, but I hesitate to make credit card purchases or even log on to my
> > home
> > desktop remotely because I don't want anyone snooping my passwords.
>
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.work_remotely (More info?)

jerry wrote:
> Sorry, when I said free wifi, that meant there was no encryption
> whatsoever. In fact, it's still set at the default lynksis settings.

Ugh. I would be very careful using this at all - make sure your machine is
locked down to the gills & firewalled, etc.
>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
>
>> jerry wrote:
>>> Is it safe to use Remote Desktop Connection on a public wi-fi
>>> network? The RDC is secure, so no one would be able to see the
>>> passwords I'm typing in or anything like that, right? I ask because
>>> I often surf at a cafe with free wi-fi, but I hesitate to make
>>> credit card purchases or even log on to my home desktop remotely
>>> because I don't want anyone snooping my passwords.
>>
>> There is no way for you to be 100% sure it's secure. Or us, given
>> that you don't mention what kind of security they have on the
>> wireless.