Many free wireless internet users in Fredericton may not be aware of just how vulnerable they are to hackers, a computer science expert warns.
Retired University of New Brunswick professor Bernd Kurz says the service is great for the city, and people can enjoy it, but they should know about the risks.
Since the wireless network is an open community network, it's possible for third parties to view your private information online, using simple, readily downloadable software.
Kurz says the information on websites, web headers and e-mails are all in plain texts.
"That means it's very easy to track, for instance, the web pages someone was looking at," Kurz said.
The Fred-e-Zone allows Wi-Fi equipped personal computers, laptops, or PDAs to connect to the internet free of charge from anywhere within the network's range, which includes much of the downtown near the river on the north and south sides, and at other locations throughout the area.
Read's Newsstand is a popular destination for coffee drinkers with wireless card-equipped laptops. Owner Jeff Magnussen said he gets questions from customers on just how secure the network is all the time.
"We've had issues with our own security here," Magnussen said.
Frequent wireless internet user Evelyn Pacquin likes using the connection, but is cautious about what information she puts out there, and doesn't do her banking online anymore, for example.
"I just don't feel really confident about it because I know for as many bright and intelligent people developing these systems, there's a whole group who's just as equally bright and intelligent who are looking for ways to break into it. There are hackers who do that for a living.
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However, Kurz says the risks are manageable and suggests disabling the peer-to-peer connection on a computer to reduce the chances of hackers getting information.
He says free wireless users also should limit time online, because the longer a person is on, the easier it is to track where they are going.
The city of Fredericton and local telecommunications company e-Novations are behind the free service, which has garnered the city much attention from municipalities across North America looking at e-zone models of their own.
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