Is it unsafe to check my checking accounts online when using a public wireless network?

Question

Or what if I use my laptop in someone's home using their wireless even though they don't use a security code to connect?

Answer 1

Everything sent in plain text can be sniffed by a packet sniffer.  However, passwords you enter in for a bank account are encrypted anyway.  They can pick it up with a sniffer, but they won't be able to decode it.

It is very unsafe for the reason that you are on the same network as they are.  It is much easier to hack into a computer that is on the same network than it is through the Internet.

I guess if you want to look at it this way, if they hack your computer, they can run a key logger to get your password.  This would take a very talented hacker to be able to do this.  Passwords are not encrypted until you hit the login button.  But once it's traveling through the wireless, somebody who sniffs that data is not going to decode it.

Answer 2

Yes, it is very unsafe.

Someone could literally log and read your password, and have complete access to your account.

Using someone's wireless network without their consent is illegal, so I wouldn't do that.  However, it is way less likely that it will be logged on a home network.