Internet banking aboard ship

pdevoy wrote:
> We are going on a 10 day Princess cruise from Hawaii to Vancouver. I
> have already contacted the ship and learned about wireless access.
> They said I would be able to rent their wireless network by the
> minute. I have a choice at this point to take my own laptop and use
> this to conduct online banking on their network or not bring my laptop
> and use their computer in the internet café. I would see the
> difference as my own laptop would be perhaps safer as I am the only
> user as compared to the internet café machines as a potential risk of
> identity theft. The number one concern I have is the use of a key
> logger program where a thief would install this on a computer on the
> ship and track what keys another user is typing to gain access to
> personal information such as account passwords. Has anyone seen a case
> where the onboard computers caused passengers to get ripped off?
>
I suggest that you contact your bank's internet division and ask them
this question. They should know.

On 16 May 2007 11:48:24 -0700, pdevoy <pmdevoym> wrote:

>We are going on a 10 day Princess cruise from Hawaii to Vancouver. I
>have already contacted the ship and learned about wireless access.
>They said I would be able to rent their wireless network by the
>minute. I have a choice at this point to take my own laptop and use
>this to conduct online banking on their network or not bring my laptop
>and use their computer in the internet café. I would see the
>difference as my own laptop would be perhaps safer as I am the only
>user as compared to the internet café machines as a potential risk of
>identity theft. The number one concern I have is the use of a key
>logger program where a thief would install this on a computer on the
>ship and track what keys another user is typing to gain access to
>personal information such as account passwords. Has anyone seen a case
>where the onboard computers caused passengers to get ripped off?

The connection will probably be very slow either way especially
compared to a broadband connection. And the per minute charge isn't
cheap.

> I would not do any internet banking on anything except my own laptop.
> Not on the ship computers, or in an internet cafe or even in the
> library.

You may want to research the ease of data theft from an unencrypted wifi
signal from your laptop.

This is especially true if you are trapped into using a peer to peer path to
the internet. Scam artists are setting these up in airports and other
hotspots. I found one in a Panera the other day. And one in the Comair
terminal at N. Ky/Cincinnati airport last week.

Only use 'infrastructure' to access the internet via your laptop, and then
only using WPA encryption, for anything other than casual surfing.

Rosalie B. wrote:

> Sometimes the answer is no. When we were on back to back cruises, and
> then took 2 weeks to drive home, we were away for about 6 weeks. And
> when we used to cruise on our own boat, we were gone for 6 months. So
> just waiting to get home wasn't an option. Particularly as I had to
> pay the estate taxes on my mom's estate as soon as we got off the
> ship.

These payments could be scheduled in advance before leaving. Frankly, I
can see absolutely no reason to HAVE to do online banking while away and
on an unsecured network. And believe me, I am NOT anti-computer while
on vacation; I bring and use my laptop for e-mail and the occasional
work project when need be.

~ Peri