S3D Re: CC & e-mail

[Brian Reynolds <reynolds@xxxxxxxxx>]

Bob Wier wrote:
> Yes - very true. There is also the problem on *this* end that
> since I'm at a college with connections to dorm rooms that a 
> sniffer could be used. That's a good reason to use one of the
> CCs that supposedly protect you against unauthorized internet
> charges, etc.
> 

If you use switches instead of hubs and segment your network at the
port level (with one node per port) you don't have to worry about
sniffing.  Yeah I know, fat chance a college will spend any money on
student resources.  At the least there should be a firewall at each
dorm separating it from the rest of the campus network.  Heck I
wouldn't even trust other departments, but then I'm paid to be
paranoid.

> For the server on the other end, I generally don't worry too 
> much about that since it's equivalent to calling up a place and
> give the CC to an employee on the phone. 
> 
> Insecure any way you look at it.
> 

Actually it's more like calling a place up, giving your information to
an employee and then having that employee putting it on a bulletin
board for other customers to see.  Most crackers aren't very smart,
it's just that most businesses aren't very careful.

-- 
Brian Reynolds                  | "Dee Dee!  Don't touch that button!"
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