Wireless internet usb cards and anonymity

[Gudasgold]

Techies:

1) These days we have myfi devices and usb wireless cards. Can these be paid for on-the-go? Most on-the-go cell phones require no id. Is this the same for the previously mentioned devices? Would these be safe to use at a grow location?

2) Most motels offer free wireless connection. Are these safe to use while at a grow op without going having to go through such extremes as using Tor and encryptions, etc.

3) Boost Mobile has the walkie talkie feature. How secure is that feature? Man, I love the old days where we just didn't talk crazy on the phone. Period. What with all these new technologies now, perhaps it's possible to talk a little more if prudence is taken.

later

 

[midgethorse]

Not sure on your first question.

As far as motels, most (even the cheap ones) offer free wireless to their guests. Upon check in they will give you a password to their connection. Then, a screen pops up of their "terms" for internet use. Which you must click to agree to .
So lets say you used the internet for something illigal, wouldnt be to hard for leo to find out who was using the internet.Not that something like that would happen over...lets say..visiting icmag while on vacation. Personally, if you got some paranoia, use places that offer open internet sources and change it up. For instance a coffee shop, or panera bread, shit there are tons of places. You could just sit in your car outside the place to pick up their open connection. And next time use a different spot, that is, if your that paranoid.

Your third question,
funny thing about these boost mobile phones. I have had many, used as burners with the walkie talkie feature.
The day I got my first one I had a beep on my walkie..I said hello,,Dude on other end goes "you looking for some green?" lol.
Dont ask me how they get your walkie number but be ready for 10 or 15 dudes a day trying to slang you dime bags (two for fifteen ).
As far as leo, they are well aware of the boost mobile walkie talkie feature and dudes downtown with their dimes. "Ask me how I know this"lol.
Not thats said, I like the boost phones with the walkie, not sure it makes me any safer using the walkie, but at least I feel safer.
Be safe
Midgethorse.

 

[Frogger]

I use the virgin USB and I love it! Just don't try and download movie or like I did a tv series very slow! Outher then that I like it.

 

[STUPPA]

I could be wrong but i think the USB internet dongles give you a new IP address every time you connect to the internet , not sure if that helps any tho

 

[ak-51]

1) Don't know. If prepaid smartphone data packages materialize then you could just use that, they can also be hacked to work as a modem for a laptop. As long as you don't put your name on anything and switch it up fairly regularly you're good.

2) Most motels offer free wireless connection. Are these safe to use while at a grow op without going having to go through such extremes as using Tor and encryptions, etc.

The short answer is no.
Hotels are a sweet target for hackers because of the large number business travelers using wi-fi at predictable hours on connection that may very well be completely unencrypted. These attacks are not hard to pull off with the right tools. How often does this happen? Probably to a fraction of a percentage of hotel patrons have traffic intercepted, and a fraction of those incidents result in something malicious happening. I just wouldn't want to check up on my bank or credit card accounts on such a thing. Now would somebody hacking the hotel's wifi for identity theft and credit card fraud purposes care about your grow? No, they would likely be amused and that is all. They would not be reporting anything to the police.
Tor and encryption are not extreme measures to go to. Everyone should make minimal effort to protect themselves as far as computers go.

3) Can't be sure but I think that they are more secure than regular walkie talkie traffic. I believe PTT(push to talk) features go over the cell network, which would probably require a warrant to intercept. Most regular walkie-talkies use unencrypted radio to transmit. I remember seeing an episode of cops, or maybe it was a documentary, about a narc squad that was working on the local crack-spot. The dealers and lookouts were using walkie-talkies to communicate, the problem was the cops just bought walkie-talkies also and listened in on everything they said, no special cop-gear needed.

For more info:
intercept traffic with a pineapple
truecrypt: easy data encryption, military grade+