for display only
Big Blue Interactive The Corner Forum  
Back to the Corner

Archived Thread

NFT: Wi-Fi and internet usage in italy

Payasdaddy : 3/23/2023 9:06 pm
Wife and I both have iPhones
She has voiced concern over hacking while connected to Wi-Fi
She says my kind. ( Italians) are a bunch of crooks ( she is kidding. Sorta. And not totally wrong) when it comes to hacking public Wi-Fi, even in a solid hotel.
We did travel pass thing thru Verizon in Aruba with no issues but looking for input. Some kinda of VPN?
Not tech savvy but we get around on our gadgets ok
TIA
We go to Italy  
Go Giants : 3/23/2023 9:11 pm : link
In the summers. We have iPhone and the pass thing. You will end up using data each day and using WiFi. We had a credit card spoofed in Florence a few years back but no issues otherwise. I’d be very careful at ATMs Otherwise enjoy everything Italy has to offer.
RE: We go to Italy  
Payasdaddy : 3/23/2023 9:20 pm : link
In comment 16074165 Go Giants said:
Quote:
In the summers. We have iPhone and the pass thing. You will end up using data each day and using WiFi. We had a credit card spoofed in Florence a few years back but no issues otherwise. I’d be very careful at ATMs Otherwise enjoy everything Italy has to offer.


Got it, she seems to think that they hack effectively there
I probably won’t use an atm , possible but will be careful.
Using VPN on any unsecured wifi  
JonC : 3/23/2023 9:24 pm : link
is a wise strategy.
I have never had an  
section125 : 3/23/2023 9:29 pm : link
issue. And I used the ATMs all the time.
RE: Using VPN on any unsecured wifi  
Payasdaddy : 3/23/2023 9:29 pm : link
In comment 16074170 JonC said:
Quote:
is a wise strategy.


I guess my next question would be how do I set that up on an iPhone?

When I log into Wi-Fi phone tells me if network secured or not
I don’t use it if it is.
cool Italian bashing  
bluefin : 3/23/2023 9:43 pm : link
one of those nationalities that it’s OK to denigrate. Have at it.

Oh, and it you’re robbed in Italy? Odds are it won’t be by an Italian.

I just picked NordVPN  
ZogZerg : 3/23/2023 9:43 pm : link
Signed up for a family plan so we can all use on our upcoming trip to Italy.
Plan to use for phones and tablets.
RE: RE: Using VPN on any unsecured wifi  
JonC : 3/23/2023 9:51 pm : link
In comment 16074176 Payasdaddy said:
Quote:
In comment 16074170 JonC said:


Quote:


is a wise strategy.



I guess my next question would be how do I set that up on an iPhone?

When I log into Wi-Fi phone tells me if network secured or not
I don’t use it if it is.


You'd have to see which are available in the app store. Nord and Proton are both good, IPvanish and TunnelBear easier for beginners.
For what its worth...  
dannysection 313 : 3/23/2023 9:51 pm : link
We switched to T-Mobile last summer, in part because they offer free texting and data in Europe.

I got really tired of the Verizon $10 a day cost and their higher monthly prices in general.

We were finally kicking our adult kids off of our plan so I shopped around.

T-Mobile saves me $70.00 a month over Verizon (which I had for 20 years) plus gave the free text/data in Europe.

Never looked back, no drop in coverage anywhere, and I live in New Hampshire.

Also, I have used my debit card for cash in Europe many, many times without a problem. I usually pay for meals/hotels with my Amex because there are no foreign transaction fees.

More information than you wanted!
RE: cool Italian bashing  
Payasdaddy : 3/23/2023 10:03 pm : link
In comment 16074187 bluefin said:
Quote:
one of those nationalities that it’s OK to denigrate. Have at it.

Oh, and it you’re robbed in Italy? Odds are it won’t be by an Italian.


Italian bashing? Dude , I am Italian. Can’t make fun of your own, u got bigger problems
And if u don’t think theft an issue in Italy, u are fooling yourself
RE: For what its worth...  
Payasdaddy : 3/23/2023 10:36 pm : link
In comment 16074192 dannysection 313 said:
Quote:
We switched to T-Mobile last summer, in part because they offer free texting and data in Europe.

I got really tired of the Verizon $10 a day cost and their higher monthly prices in general.

We were finally kicking our adult kids off of our plan so I shopped around.

T-Mobile saves me $70.00 a month over Verizon (which I had for 20 years) plus gave the free text/data in Europe.

Never looked back, no drop in coverage anywhere, and I live in New Hampshire.

Also, I have used my debit card for cash in Europe many, many times without a problem. I usually pay for meals/hotels with my Amex because there are no foreign transaction fees.

More information than you wanted!

Visited T mobile last month to switch from Verizon. Verizon getting to be a rip off They want to Jack our bill $50 a line for unlimited data ( 2 lines). So I get to play the turn off my cellular data game to try to conserve. We can get two new iPhones and unlimited at T mobile for like around $40 more total. Gonna pull the trigger before Italy trip ( 4 weeks from today). Appreciate the insight
Have TMobile and been to Italy a lot  
PatersonPlank : 3/23/2023 10:41 pm : link
buy the wifi package, and have never had any issue at all
RE: Have TMobile and been to Italy a lot  
Payasdaddy : 3/23/2023 10:44 pm : link
In comment 16074212 PatersonPlank said:
Quote:
buy the wifi package, and have never had any issue at all

What the Wi-Fi package? Is that for home internet or phone usage?
RE: RE: For what its worth...  
Jim in Fairfax : 3/23/2023 11:09 pm : link
In comment 16074210 Payasdaddy said:
Quote:


Visited T mobile last month to switch from Verizon. Verizon getting to be a rip off They want to Jack our bill $50 a line for unlimited data ( 2 lines). So I get to play the turn off my cellular data game to try to conserve. We can get two new iPhones and unlimited at T mobile for like around $40 more total. Gonna pull the trigger before Italy trip ( 4 weeks from today). Appreciate the insight

Verizon recently hiked rates on old unlimited plans. Current plans were not hiked. Switching to one of their current plans would likely save you.
RE: cool Italian bashing  
NINEster : 3/24/2023 10:26 am : link
In comment 16074187 bluefin said:
Quote:
one of those nationalities that it’s OK to denigrate. Have at it.



So annoying.
RE: RE: Have TMobile and been to Italy a lot  
PatersonPlank : 3/24/2023 10:56 am : link
In comment 16074213 Payasdaddy said:
Quote:
In comment 16074212 PatersonPlank said:


Quote:


buy the wifi package, and have never had any issue at all


What the Wi-Fi package? Is that for home internet or phone usage?


There is a certain amount of international data included with the Magenta plans. After the basic amount it still works, but drops to a slower data rate. You can "pre buy" more 5G data for really cheap. Good for streaming things, google maps, etc.
Download  
Burt64 : 3/24/2023 11:40 am : link
the app called "Airalo".

Its an Esim app.

Instead of $10 a day on Verizon, i paid $8 total for 2mb of data and good for 15 days while i was in Switzerland. Just call and text via whatsApp and you'll be fine.
RE: RE: cool Italian bashing  
NINEster : 3/24/2023 12:42 pm : link
In comment 16074204 Payasdaddy said:
Quote:
In comment 16074187 bluefin said:


Quote:


one of those nationalities that it’s OK to denigrate. Have at it.

Oh, and it you’re robbed in Italy? Odds are it won’t be by an Italian.




Italian bashing? Dude , I am Italian. Can’t make fun of your own, u got bigger problems
And if u don’t think theft an issue in Italy, u are fooling yourself


That's the thing -- only you can make fun of your own, not outsiders.

RE: Download  
Sec 103 : 3/24/2023 3:35 pm : link
In comment 16074524 Burt64 said:
Quote:
the app called "Airalo".

Its an Esim app.

Instead of $10 a day on Verizon, i paid $8 total for 2mb of data and good for 15 days while i was in Switzerland. Just call and text via whatsApp and you'll be fine.


This!!!
Pay the ten dollars a day  
Vanzetti : 3/24/2023 3:44 pm : link
and turn your wifi off

when you are in the hotel, turn the wifi back on and use What's App

And don't do dumb stuff like logging on to your banks or brokerage account.

And just for the record, I have been to Italy five times in the last decade and never had a problem security wise. Poor internet service is a way bigger problem in Italy even at some expensive hotels. If you need a reliable connection go to business hotels. Don't stay in old town or near the beach
RE: RE: Download  
Vanzetti : 3/24/2023 3:45 pm : link
In comment 16074805 Sec 103 said:
Quote:
In comment 16074524 Burt64 said:


Quote:


the app called "Airalo".

Its an Esim app.

Instead of $10 a day on Verizon, i paid $8 total for 2mb of data and good for 15 days while i was in Switzerland. Just call and text via whatsApp and you'll be fine.



This!!!


But then you have to be on wifi, which exposes you.
I use Nord on my mobile phone  
D HOS : 3/24/2023 3:48 pm : link
Honestly I think the risk of being hacked on your iphone while traveling is not very high, but there is no downside to investing in a mobile friendly VPN like Nord and using it all the time.

VPN will only prevent people from spying on the information you exchange with websites and such. Unless you exclusively use wifi calling it won't protect your phone conversations and a VPN doesn't inherently protect your iPhone from being hacked directly.

I think both of those threats are unlikely, BUT, there have been quite a few severe flaws announced over the last year in iPhone IOS that could potentially let a bad actor gain access to your phone and its stored data. So make sure your phones are updated.

Another thing you could do is leave the iPhones at home and use pre-paid phones you buy locally?
Appreciate all the input  
Payasdaddy : 3/24/2023 8:20 pm : link
Will check into nordvpn and maybe surfshark
We will be staying at a Westin in Rome and st Regis in Florence 3 says Airbnb in positano too
I will be in positano and Florence for the draft. First one I have missed in 45 yrs
But will be checking BBI a lot, hopefully it doesn’t crash :)
I’m living in Italy this year  
George : 3/27/2023 7:58 am : link
And am sending this post while sitting in a public piazza using open WiFi.

So far so good.
RE: Appreciate all the input  
PatersonPlank : 3/27/2023 9:48 am : link
In comment 16074956 Payasdaddy said:
Quote:
Will check into nordvpn and maybe surfshark
We will be staying at a Westin in Rome and st Regis in Florence 3 says Airbnb in positano too
I will be in positano and Florence for the draft. First one I have missed in 45 yrs
But will be checking BBI a lot, hopefully it doesn’t crash :)


So you are up near The Spanish Steps in Rome. Nice area there in front of the steps. Very high end shopping, some nice bars and restaurants too (restaurants especially between Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo). Check out Popolo and its sister churches, if you have watched The Da Vinci Code movies you've seen them. Also its not a bad walk across the river Tiber to the Vatican from there, down Rienzo.
Back to the Corner