Using public wifi

Went to wawee coffee shop today with my laptop and got the following Google message when logging onto their wifi:

Reported Attack Page!
This web page at http://www.wawee.co.th has been reported as an attack page and has been blocked based on your security preferences. Attack pages try to install programs that steal private information, use your computer to attack others, or damage your system. Some attack pages intentionally distribute harmful software, but many are compromised without the knowledge or permission of their owners.

I don't know what information can be lifted if the attack program was successful. I assume as long as I'm not logging into my banking web site or typing anything sensitive I should be ok using public wifi.

Anyone know what these attack programs can do? Can they get saved passwords or files?

never sign into your banking accounts on a public wifi network, secure or not. i wouldn't even do at an internet shop, non wifi, unless i know the owner, which is only one in udon, pop pop internet. i don't even save any passwords for my banking on computer, whether in the browser or my docs. i use the same password / pin for everything, except forums, where the info can be accessed by people i don't know, with the exception of my banking, always a unique, unrelated pin to my life, random numbers and letters. IMHO.

the reason i included forums, is because one of the easiest ways to hack into you computer, is via email and pm accounts, once done and any other info, possibly easy to figure out the rest. plus it usually involves local people you usually don't know, whether here / ut / bkk / hua hin / phuket forums, some that i use, along with booking accommodations via forum ads, not a big fan that, though not sure how or what info in transferred, if any, back to forum. i'm usually over skeptical and cautious with that, especially since i use a debit card, sometimes easier to tap than CC. use only a few booking sites for accommodations, and i never use the card in a retail store or even as a security deposit at hotel. any thing that involves a person having access, especially a thai is just stupid, as too many times it's reported cc fraud after a sale or purchase at where ever, whether a reputable name brand or not.

probably overly cautious, if possible, but so far so good.

[quote="laphanphon" and i never use the card in a retail store or even as a security deposit at hotel. any thing that involves a person having access, especially a thai is just stupid, as too many times it's reported cc fraud after a sale or purchase at where ever, whether a reputable name brand or not.

probably overly cautious, if possible, but so far so good.[/quote]
I don't think you can be too cautious. What worries me when shopping , in say Robinsons , is the way the sales girl takes your card and disappears into way beyond, to go to a till completely out of sight, only to return 10 minutes later, with the transaction rang through, gets you to sign the slip, then disappears again before bringing your card back .I am always thinking it would be so easy for a dishonest person to make more than one card receipt, then after they have a copy of your signature, forge it on a second or subsequent one .Why they can't have more obvious cashier points and invite the customer to them to sign the slip I don't know .Back in the UK you had to tap in a pin code before it was authorised. That doesn't seem to apply to Thai cards .
Note to LA. 3.20AM .? Can't you sleep mate?

trubrit wrote:....... What worries me when shopping , in say Robinsons , is the way the sales girl takes your card and disappears into way beyond, to go to a till completely out of sight, only to return 10 minutes later, with the transaction rang through, gets you to sign the slip, then disappears again before bringing your card back....

On the rare occasions I've needed to use plastic in Robinson I have always gone with the girl to the cashier, given the card to the cashier myself and kept my eyes on it until it was returned - no problem with the sales girl but sometimes it has been a route march to get to the cashier.

Card fraud happened twice with my old company and both were in Bangkok, at the same time, for an identical amout and to the same organisation! When the bills came through we were able to track back to the only time that both cards were out of sight at the same time which was at check in at a top hotel in Bangkok - we complained both to the card company and the hotel and received an apology and more importantly a full refund of the money.

Card fraud can happen far more easily if the card is out of your sight, however there is no guarantee that it won't happen even if you keep tight hold of it all the time

A few years ago, ironically while I was in Thailand, there was a fraudulent attempt to use one of my cards on an internet transaction in England, fortunately the attempt was intercepted by the fraud prevention section (I had advised the card issuer that I was going to be in Thailand) unfortunately their system put a complete block on usage of the card which I only found out about when my card was rejected when I tried to use it in Thailand, however once I contacted the card issuer they did work out a way that I could still use the card while in Thailand.