Using Disney open wifi..... yes or no?

[KittyKitty]

I need advice. Can't quite figure out what to do.

I am taking my tablet and smart phone to Disney World. I plan on not using the Disney wifi for my smart phone, but will use the wifi for my tablet.

I don't have banking stuff on either, but have password protected apps I use, touring plans, Disney app, airlines, email. Whats the best thing to do to keep protected while using open Wifi? Or should I not use it at all?


I am clueless.......

 

[JZCubed]

I need advice. Can't quite figure out what to do.

I am taking my tablet and smart phone to Disney World. I plan on not using the Disney wifi for my smart phone, but will use the wifi for my tablet.

I don't have banking stuff on either, but have password protected apps I use, touring plans, Disney app, airlines, email. Whats the best thing to do to keep protected while using open Wifi? Or should I not use it at all?


I am clueless.......

Disney had made bringing a smartphone into the Parks almost a necessity.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I use open Wifi on a regular basis, Starbucks, city buses and other places. When I am connected to the open Wifi I make sure not to do online banking or any other very high security websites. I just check social media, Dis etc and use Google search.

 

[Conno]

Disney's open WiFi is safe to use, even for things like checking personal e-mail and passworded accounts. Their UBR routers are locked down - and guest clients are locked into their own tunnel (meaning that someone using the free WiFi via a laptop cannot access other clients on the local network).

In simple terms, no one connected to Disney's free WiFi can access any of your devices or computers via Disney's free WiFi.

I used it for banking while I was away, among other things.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

It's so slow. I usually just use my phone companies wireless. I don't do banking on it unless I'm logged into the VPN that supposedly allows me to be a ghost.
It's something my husband told me about. I googled it and found how to do it.

 

[soniam]

It will be fine. Using Disney wifi is just as safe as anything. If people want to hack your accounts, they aren't stealing passwords from wifi; they just get it from the account providers insecure network. Also, if you ever use a debit card anywhere, ie at a store or online, then you are already compromised. I use wifi frequently for reading email and buying stuff with a credit card. I typically don't use it for banking though. I usually only do that at home on my wifi and laptop.

 

[bryanb]

If you're really concerned, you could add VPN to your phone. There are apps such as TunnelBear which will encrypt all transmissions on your phone and route them through a secure server. (Of course, you'll have to trust the VPN server too.)

I've had decent luck with the Disney Wi-Fi network in most places. It's not the fastest, but it doesn't cost anything extra and it's nice that they set it up.

For banking apps, I'd imagine that your bank uses the strongest industry standard encryption, so even if someone could snoop on your public wi-fi transmissions, they would only see gibberish going between you and your bank.

 

[lovethattink]

The only problem I've had with Disney's wifi was using up lots of battery power while it searches for wifi on attractions or dead spots. Particularly bad is FOP.

 

[KittyKitty]

Thanks so much. I have only had my smart phone for 6 weeks now, so just learning about VPN. It sounds like it is a secondary password protection for my apps. I will do more research on it.

From what you are saying, Disney's Wifi is pretty well protected for my tablet. That I don't need to worry about using it for my apps.

 

[Haley R]

I use their Wifi for most things, but as soon as it looks slow I switch to my data. This is especially true if I'm looking for a new FP or wait times. It sometimes just takes too long if I'm in a ride que.

 

[fla4fun]

I have a hotspot I take with me. If I need to go to a secure site, I turn on the hotspot. Otherwise, I have my email and other frequent sites saved so I don’t have to key in the password - it’s already in there. Most of the time I am on Disney’s WiFi.

My hotspot is prepaid. I can buy either a seven day pass or a 30 day pass, depending on what I need.

 

[Conno]

so just learning about VPN. It sounds like it is a secondary password protection for my apps.

It's not, it just sends your data over another (usually private) network; but accessing this network is still via the Disney gateway.

From what you are saying, Disney's Wifi is pretty well protected for my tablet. That I don't need to worry about using it for my apps.

Pretty much