EV-DO security

I recently went from dialup to EV-DO mobile broadband and am wondering if the cell phone-like technology is vulnerable like any other wireless connection?

 

Yes. Perhaps in some ways more so. I would not connect directly into the internet (that is, without a router in between) without an active software firewall running on my PC.

 

ZoneAlarm is my firewall but the EV-DO is Sprint USB device that does not go through a router.
I have been trying to connect with VPN, another thread, but have not had success yet.
I still use alternate dial up, Netzero, for online banking until I can get VPN to work.



XP Pro SP2 with updates
Avast, ZoneAlarm

 

I had a Sprint EV-DO card myself (until my unlimited plan was limited at 5GB/month). Without a NAT router in place (there is none unless you have plugged the EV-DO card into one rather than plugging it directly into your PC) your IP address is exposed to the internet. It can be seen and you can see the IP addresses of other Sprint EV-DO connected PCs. ZoneAlarm is a prudent precaution.

FWIW, this is no different than if you plug directly into a DSL MODEM at home that does not also have a NAT router.

 

The IP of my previous AT&T dialup connection was exposed to the internet and world also but my ports were stealth closed by ZoneAlarm and the connection was safe to login to my bank. My Sprint connection is also stealth closed.
An exposed IP does not necessarily lead to invasion of security.


XP Pro SP2 with updates
Avast, ZoneAlarm

 

Not with a firewall

 

Did you use your EV_DO connection to login to banks and credit card sites?


XP Pro SP2 with updates
Avast, ZoneAlarm
Sprint EV_DO

 

I just read in the Buzz
"CDMA transmissions are encrypted as they go over the network. This is part of the CDMA protocol and does not require configuration. Any CDMA device (such as a phone, pc card, etc) will automatically encrypt every bit of data that goes over the CDMA link unless the network specifically tells it not to. Because this is part of the CDMA protocol, WiFi based encryption systems like WPA do not apply.

You do however need to worry about network security. When you sign onto Sprint mobile broadband, the system gives you a public IP address, and unless you are using the Linksys router there is no router protecting you from the Internet. As a result, it is a good idea to use a firewall such as zonealarm, or at least make sure your windows firewall is enabled. You must also make sure that your windows update is updated, so your machine doesn't have any gaping security holes (but that applies no matter what you're doing). "

Since my unit is CDMA EV-DO REV A, I should be safe to login into banks, etc.

 

I purchased a wireless router that allows the USB modem to plug in to but this forces wifi connection because the mobile broadband dialup is not detected because it is not plugged in to the computer.
Thus, the use of more secure router, which hides the ip, forces a less secure connection. This is for the pits.

Regular dialup has ip exposed and is safe to log in to banks so the mobile broadband should be safe as long as firewall and other safe practices are used.

Any comments?

 

Would this router provide a solution ..
Linksys WRT54G3G-ST Mobile Broadband EVDO Router - Review ...

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