Wifi/Internet Security

[JackScarlett]

I am moving to a new condo building and have been told by the Management that my preferred Internet provider - 3BB - capacity is full and that I must purchase the building system, Sophon Fibre Optic.   I understand that this purchase will include a router/modem.   Being of an age where IT is foreign to me, I question the security of my use of the building system if I am connected to a system that can be accessed by anyone in the building.  I am told don't worry you will have your own password.   Okay I understand that but when my input to the outside world joins the building system, doesn't this mean that my privacy no longer exists.  I am thinking mainly of my dealings with financial matters.

 

I would welcome some advice from those more knowledgeable please.

 

Thanking you in advance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pib]

Every area or building does not have access to all internet providers as all providers simply do not service some areas/buildings. Usually you will only have 1 to 3 choices...not that only 1 is a choice.

And in high rise buildings the fiber optics comes in on the ground floor and at that point it terminates into a fiber optics to VDSL converter to feed the internet the final X-meters to your residence on the x-floor over the building's phone/DSL lines. And that converter may not be able to feed all residences especially if building management split internet rights to 2 or more internet providers.

Maybe Sophon is really your building's primary internet provider. Sophon is not some system self-built my building management....Sophon is an Internet provider just like 3BB, TOT, AIS, True, etc.

[KittenKong]

Financial websites invariably use end-to-end encryption to protect your data from being intercepted, so I would not worry unduly about this.

 

In practice the building's Sophon fibre system - assuming that you have a wire going to your room and you own modem as you mention, and it's not just shared building wifi - should be secure enough on the local level. But if you are worried you can always use a VPN to some remote location which should ensure the security of all your data all the time. It would make your connection slower though.

[KittenKong]

1 minute ago, Pib said:

And in high rise buildings the fiber optics comes in on the ground floor and at that point it terminates into a fiber optics to VDSL converter to feed the internet the final X-meters to your residence on the x-floor over the building's phone/DSL lines.

 

Not always. Many buildings, even older ones, can support fibre direct to the unit. I have a fibre cable in mine (though I dont use it because the ISP is crap). The fibre from my room goes to a fibre switch on the ground floor, where it connects to the main fibre cable that supplies the whole building and also the building's internal wifi.

 

I actually use VDSL which connects via a dedicated phone line from my room to a fibre distribution unit situated well outside the building.

[Pib]

Yea.. I should have said for "some" buildings the fiber will terminate on the ground floor where it then gets converted to VDSL for the trip up to your residence. All too common for that approach in older buildings. All depends on the telecommunications infrastructure/capabilities of your building.

 

 

[RichCor]

6 hours ago, JackScarlett said:

must purchase the building system, Sophon Fibre Optic.   I understand that this purchase will include a router/modem.  

I question the security of my use of the building system if I am connected to a system that can be accessed by anyone in the building.

 

Fibre Optic Internet, as with Coaxial Cable Internet, utilizes a single main trunk to deliver service to multiple nearby users.  So while the data sent goes to all the users at once, the data is encoded/encrypted for each specific subscriber box. (The other boxes can see the data, but can't unencrypt/decode it, so it gets ignored/dropped at the router). You only see the data meant for you, they only see the data meant for them.

[2008bangkok]

As in my Confo block there are 2 difference services providers piped into the building, in my case it is TOT and BTV,  the people you pick will then pipe it into your condo and you pay the company.

 

I would check with 3BB first if you prefer them and make sure they are at capacity rather than take the buildings word for it, they maybe on a kick back to sign up Sophon, after all I think Sophon is a cable company, if so you will need a special cable modem and they will charge you 2500+ just for the modem where 3BB are free modem if you sign up for 1 yr.

[KittenKong]

1 hour ago, 2008bangkok said:

3BB are free modem if you sign up for 1 yr.

 

3BB currently charge 800B for their standard VDSL router.

[JackScarlett]

Thank you to all who contributed.  I better informed as a result.

[Laza 45]

On 15/07/2017 at 11:13 AM, KittenKong said:

Financial websites invariably use end-to-end encryption to protect your data from being intercepted, so I would not worry unduly about this.

 

In practice the building's Sophon fibre system - assuming that you have a wire going to your room and you own modem as you mention, and it's not just shared building wifi - should be secure enough on the local level. But if you are worried you can always use a VPN to some remote location which should ensure the security of all your data all the time. It would make your connection slower though.

Try IPVanish.. very quick.. encrypted.. secure..  

[tonboy]

word of advice, for your main computer use a LAN cable to connect to your modem, secure and much faster then any wifi. And because this is no wifi, you do not have any issues with security sending receiving data. 

[RichCor]

24 minutes ago, tonboy said:

word of advice, for your main computer use a LAN cable to connect to your modem, secure and much faster then any wifi. And because this is no wifi, you do not have any issues with security sending receiving data. 

 

Not quite true if, as the OP originally suggested, he was sharing his Internet Connection with every one else in the building.

 

If you are on a 'shared' router/gateway, whether wired or wireless, the other people connected can potentially see all of your traffic, and read whatever is sent/received that isn't encrypted.  Wired or Wireless makes no difference.

[speedtripler]

It's a separate router +modem 

(he said they are making him get one, but it must be from that company) 

They are certainly not cheap tho..... I would call true and 3bb and tot first and check if any of them can provide service 

(some building managers  like my previous one lean to certain providers because they get a kickback of installation) 

 

[tonboy]

1 minute ago, speedtripler said:

It's a separate router +modem 

(he said they are making him get one, but it must be from that company) 

They are certainly not cheap tho..... I would call true and 3bb and tot first and check if any of them can provide service 

(some building managers  like my previous one lean to certain providers because they get a kickback of installation) 

 

they will give you good service, as long as you pay for a full year in advance. I have 3BB vdsl as well as AIS Fiber, and both provide excellent service, id the complete installation within 2 days after signing up. And the modems I got for free

Edited July 17, 2017 by tonboy
extra info

[speedtripler]

7 minutes ago, tonboy said:

they will give you good service, as long as you pay for a full year in advance. I have 3BB vdsl as well as AIS Fiber, and both provide excellent service, id the complete installation within 2 days after signing up. And the modems I got for free

I didn't say it was bad service, I said it's  expensive...

At those prices they should be providing an fantastic service:

 

http://www.sbnnet.co.th/residential.html

[tonboy]

12 minutes ago, speedtripler said:

I didn't say it was bad service, I said it's  expensive...

At those prices they should be providing an fantastic service:

 

http://www.sbnnet.co.th/residential.html

I pay for AIS Fiber 200/200 Mb approx 2800 thb every month, and that is including AIS playbox (television) with HBO and free movies. For 3BB vdsl 50/20 Mb I pay 800 thb every month. And that i only for backup internet (should fiber not work).

[speedtripler]

1 minute ago, tonboy said:

I pay for AIS Fiber 200/200 Mb approx 2800 thb every month, and that is including AIS playbox (television) with HBO and free movies. For 3BB vdsl 50/20 Mb I pay 800 thb every month. And that i only for backup internet (should fiber not work).

I have 100/30 True Fibre at 1299 a month

 

Hopefully they can upgrade us to 200/xxx like 3bb and tot .......but i think maybe they are not under pressure because they are the only ones who supply  Fibre in this  area yet.. 

[tonboy]

47 minutes ago, speedtripler said:

I have 100/30 True Fibre at 1299 a month

 

Hopefully they can upgrade us to 200/xxx like 3bb and tot .......but i think maybe they are not under pressure because they are the only ones who supply  Fibre in this  area yet.. 

Other companies do not use the same fiber lines (like in Holland) ?

 

[speedtripler]

1 hour ago, tonboy said:

Other companies do not use the same fiber lines (like in Holland) ?

 

no,i think some companies have a monopoly on their own equipment and infrastructure ,even formal/informal  service agreements in certain condo buildings 

i called 3BB and they said no fibre ,VDSL maybe 

TOT said no

CAT were unable to give an answer  

True were a bit difficult  but eventually agreed to 100/30MB (actual speedtests around  is 135/38MB so there maybe more on tap for future upgrades )

[Grumpy Duck]

I have True cell, air card, ctv, and internet in my mansion. When Truevisions dumped HBO I wanted to switch to AIS, as the Truvision selection of stations really sucks. I was told by building management they are contracted with True, and cannot allow other providers. But True did upgrade my internet to 70 mb down and 30 mb up at no additional cost. 

[jacko45k]

Use a VPN too!

[speedtripler]

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Use a VPN too!

Even paid VPN service is slower during peak hours... But it does help against bandwidth throttling