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Question

Precautions when you dont trust the router..

Nov 26, 2016 2:55PM PST

This question here is about all the precautions you can take if you dont 100% trust your router. Let say you buy new laptop and you have to log on your family router where many different people and devices have access to. Or you go to your neighbor and so on. What are the best measures you can take to protect your laptop. I know that the odds that the router's firmware is compromised are really little, bust still if infected mashine or someone manages to log to the wifi connection then you machine is at risk as well. What i currently do is hide network discovery, disable all sharing, and keeping avast and malwarbytes well updated and periodically scanning. How exactly can compromised wifi connection affect you pc- i've heard it something with DNS packets but its dark matter to me. I would also want to ask the same about android and ios devices Happy

Discussion is locked

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Answer
I guess I'd have to
Nov 26, 2016 3:00PM PST

Run TAILS. Given the current "possible" Windows exploits, I'd have to use TAILS or at least a TOR Browser.

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Yes i will for my work :)
Nov 26, 2016 3:08PM PST

I am talking for the rest of the time when i dont use the pc for work, like simply for personal use- watching movies, doing fun and stuff in home environment. I know it wont be 100% protection, just the basics. Or in other words- apart from disabling sharing and turn off network discovery, is there other steps to lower the chances of any infection.

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And something about TAILS
Nov 26, 2016 3:16PM PST

And since we are on the subject, and pardon me if i am getting annoying here, but if i run TAILS on my machine and if it's compromised (the laptop) is there anypossibility that it can affect the TAILS system. Do they have any touch connections at all (my OS and the TAILS). So can i work with my photos safely on the TAILS. also can i use programs like photoshop when i am using TAILS.

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Running Tails.
Nov 26, 2016 3:25PM PST

Tails will absolutely not be compromised. It's an OS that runs from USB/DVD and no way comes in contact with Windows unless you want to save files from a Windows drive.
Dafydd.

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Thats good..
Nov 26, 2016 3:36PM PST

Daffydd hi there Happy So i should not worry about if my OS was compromised. But what if it's the router that is hacked, is there tiny chancee that my work ot TAILS could get compromised even if the odds are super low. And if there is that basically 0 chanceethat UEFI had maliscious code installed, but i am the unluckiest person on Earth and i have it, will it affect this booting from TAILS? And again can i use programs like photoshop while booting on Tails, i cant get this because will it have its own memory?
Again guys i know how low the chances are, but i want to know evey known possible exploit.
Thanks!

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OK.
Nov 26, 2016 3:58PM PST

1. I don't think you've been compromised.
2. Go into your router and change passwords if they were left as when the router came. Example? Standard router passwords= "Admin or password".
3. No Mod or member will give a 0% chance on this. there is a slight chance Tails could be affected, as some Linux software is vulnerable to malware which will pass to a Windows machine if connected.
4. Photoshop will likely not run on Tails but there are alternatives. Tails won't have a memory unless you create a "persistent USB" How is on the web.
Best of luck,
Dafydd.

Post was last edited on November 26, 2016 4:02 PM PST

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Okey, that's enough info :)
Nov 26, 2016 4:06PM PST

Thanks Dave, I believe those answers are enough. I will learn how to use Tails, possible with presisten USB, i will ask here in the future if find any problems. i've changed the router admin password long ago Happy I opened one last thread, if you have time check on it as well. Again thanks and best of luck to you too! Happy