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Tethering not secure because GSM has been cracked?

S

Sirolway

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 13, 2009
421
23
London
OK so I use my laptop in cafes using the internet connection provided by tethering to my iPhone (on Three in the UK).
I was all smug that I'm using a secure, private network, rather than a cafe WiFi hotspot, but then decided to google the security of tethering & found this article saying that basically it's not secure as the security in GSM was designed ages ago & has been cracked

What are people's views on...

a. The security of a tethered connection for things like online banking

b. Practical suggestions for how to get a secure connection in public

hmm...
 
Agreed - I think public WiFi has to be the least preferable option.

At work, I even call it 'The Starbucks test;' any mobile app we think of has to be secure enough that our staff could use it over unsecured public WiFi in a cafe without any exposure to us ...

I had figured that tethering was an elegant & secure solution, but it looks like I shouldn't be too relaxed with it...
 
there are at least two types of 3g i am use to gsm aka at&t and cdma aka verizon here in the states so 3g can mean anything that meets the 3g standards
 
ljonesj said:
there are at least two types of 3g i am use to gsm aka at&t and cdma aka verizon here in the states so 3g can mean anything that meets the 3g standards
Click to expand...

Well pretty much all (completely all?) Europe is on GSM (the GSM standard originated in Europe) & I know I'm on GSM

So yes, I *am* using GSM ...
:)

I know the US has had some ''''interesting'''' mobile telephony standards in the past. In Europe, we were lucky to get a good standard agreed early (think we thank the French for this one)...
 
Come on guys, put away the tin foil hats. Nobody is going to target YOU and specifically YOU when it comes to this. I have yet to hear anyone being hacked because someone stole their data via tethering. By your logic I should not talk on my phone either cause someone could be listening by intercepting and cracking the signal? You're likely okay...
 
Xgm541 said:
Come on guys, put away the tin foil hats. Nobody is going to target YOU and specifically YOU when it comes to this. I have yet to hear anyone being hacked because someone stole their data via tethering. By your logic I should not talk on my phone either cause someone could be listening by intercepting and cracking the signal? You're likely okay...
Click to expand...

lol
You're absolutely right
I shall park my paranoia ;-)
 
Sirolway said:
Well pretty much all (completely all?) Europe is on GSM (the GSM standard originated in Europe) & I know I'm on GSM

So yes, I *am* using GSM ...
:)

I know the US has had some ''''interesting'''' mobile telephony standards in the past. In Europe, we were lucky to get a good standard agreed early (think we thank the French for this one)...
Click to expand...

GSM = a voice-only standard created in the early 90s

Unfortunately, a lot of people stick the GSM tag onto a lot of things that have nothing to do with GSM.

EDGE is not GSM.

UMTS is not GSM.

HSPA is not GSM.

HSUPA, HSDPA and HSPA+ are not GSM.

LTE is not GSM.

If you are using 3G data, you are most assuredly not using GSM. If you are talking on a 3G network, you are not using GSM either.
 
smithrh said:
GSM = a voice-only standard created in the early 90s

Unfortunately, a lot of people stick the GSM tag onto a lot of things that have nothing to do with GSM.

EDGE is not GSM.

UMTS is not GSM.

HSPA is not GSM.

HSUPA, HSDPA and HSPA+ are not GSM.

LTE is not GSM.

If you are using 3G data, you are most assuredly not using GSM. If you are talking on a 3G network, you are not using GSM either.
Click to expand...

Oh well alright - I stand (sit) corrected
 
My point is this - while GSM was indeed cracked some time ago, that has no bearing on what you're using today.

You can relax - for now. :D
 
smithrh said:
EDGE is not GSM.
Click to expand...

Both EDGE and GPRS can both form part of a GSM network, so that's not entirely true.

If you tether on a 2G network, then you'd be using GSM.

I'm not sure how the security issues with GSM relate to packet data connections though*

*Quick update: from what I've seen, it looks like the vulnerability in the cipher applies to all GSM communication (including GPRS and EDGE data).
 
Xgm541 said:
Come on guys, put away the tin foil hats. Nobody is going to target YOU and specifically YOU when it comes to this. I have yet to hear anyone being hacked because someone stole their data via tethering. By your logic I should not talk on my phone either cause someone could be listening by intercepting and cracking the signal? You're likely okay...
Click to expand...

Yes thats right, that would be as ludicrous as someone stealing your iphone, or ipad, or wallet, or computer, or your car, or your purse. Come on you conspiracy theorists, you really think someone is going to target you and steal your stuff, be real no one steals now a days. Thats just crazy, no one does anything illegal, and especially not to you, you guys are just paranoid.

Actually I usually leave my computer and ipad in my unlocked car with the keys in it and the door open, and my bank card with the password written on it on my dash board along with all of my credit cards. Why should I be paranoid?

And Identity theft is just made up, there is no such thing in real life, your data is perfectly safe.
 
Oops. Totally didn't notice that the OP is on Three (like me!).

Three doesn't have a GSM network of its own. It only offers limited use of the Orange GSM (2G) network in areas where it doesn't have its own coverage.

Even if you're in one of those areas, they don't allow data usage on it anyway.
 
Sirolway said:
Well pretty much all (completely all?) Europe is on GSM (the GSM standard originated in Europe) & I know I'm on GSM

So yes, I *am* using GSM ...
:)

I know the US has had some ''''interesting'''' mobile telephony standards in the past. In Europe, we were lucky to get a good standard agreed early (think we thank the French for this one)...
Click to expand...

3G is the UMTS/WCDMA standard. Its different from GSM. You never go onto 2G GSM on 3 UK (Unless roaming onto Orange).
 
chakraj said:
Yes thats right, that would be as ludicrous as someone stealing your iphone, or ipad, or wallet, or computer, or your car, or your purse. Come on you conspiracy theorists, you really think someone is going to target you and steal your stuff, be real no one steals now a days. Thats just crazy, no one does anything illegal, and especially not to you, you guys are just paranoid.

Actually I usually leave my computer and ipad in my unlocked car with the keys in it and the door open, and my bank card with the password written on it on my dash board along with all of my credit cards. Why should I be paranoid?

And Identity theft is just made up, there is no such thing in real life, your data is perfectly safe.
Click to expand...

I carry all my devices attached to my limbs through security locks in case somebody wants to steal them from me. All my wireless communications devices are wrapped in foil and whenever I want to talk to someone we talk in our own made up dialect so nobody can understand. My car comes with two sets of locks on each door and I make sure it is air-tight so nobody steals the air inside of it too. I also wear a mask everywhere so nobody steals my identity. Whenever I set up an account I smash the keys on my keyboard so that even I can't remember the password in case terrorists torture me for it, because them reading my email is essential to their operations.

I think there is a difference between being simply stupid about leaving devices out in the open or browsing a secure site over a cell network.
 
TIN FOIL!

Now if you are really serious about protecting the security and integrity of a data connection, you would be using a paid VPN provider on BOTH public WiFi and cellular data connections. They aren't that expensive and are easy to set up.

Cellular data is "safer" than a public Wi-Fi hotspot, no doubt there. But it isn't bulletproof.
 
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