What is the risk for using the unsecured wirless connections at motels?

Old Hippie: What is the risk for using the unsecured wirless connections at motels?
What am I risking when I use the free wireless connection offered at motels? Can the motel read my e-mails? Non of the motel connections are “secured”….are they safe????
Thanks!

Answers and Views:

Answer by gto69judge
Anybody with the right equipment could see anything that you send or receive over a unsecured wireless network.
I highly doubt that the motel is actively monitoring what you are doing.
If you are going to use their internet connection, don’t do anything that requires personal data- address, credit card number, etc..
Act as if their is someone over your shoulder reading everything you do. If you don’t want somebody else knowing it, don’t send it over the hotel’s wireless.

Answer by Kyle
Most higher end motels require a password which you must get when you check in. If they do not have any sort of security, many things can happen including reading your emails. The motel wouldn’t do it but someone on the network may. The chances of this happening are extremely low.

If you are connected via a VPN and on the unsecured network, I dont believe you have anything to worry about.