Is a mobile-tethered Internet connection Home, Work or Public?

[thx1139]

I'm on a train connected to the Internet via my mobile (cell) phone and Windows (on my laptop) asked me whether it's a Home, Work or Public network and it's not really any of those but I guessed it's equivalent to Home. Is that right?

 

[Barman58]

It's a public network - as it's in a public place. Setting Home will give everyone access to your System. it is assumed that Home (or work) is a safe place.
Public setting gives more protection as you do not know who is in the area and on the network

 

[thx1139]

I'm not sure that it matters that the network is in a public place. No-one else should be able to connect to it because they don't know my password.

 

[samuria]

They didn't know people's password but still the ransomware took over the PC. Being public means people can see your traffic and get your password bank details etc

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I'm not sure that it matters that the network is in a public place. No-one else should be able to connect to it because they don't know my password.

True, it takes a password to open a connection to a network, but, if you are using a Home Connection on a public connection (such as the train's), once you open the connection with your password, everyone and their dog will be able access your traffic or even get into your computer. Use Public when on the train.

 

[thx1139]

True, it takes a password to open a connection to a network, but, if you are using a Home Connection on a public connection (such as the train's), once you open the connection with your password, everyone and their dog will be able access your traffic or even get into your computer. Use Public when on the train.

It's not a public connection. The connection was directly to my mobile (cell) phone. i just happened to be on a train.

 

[Barman58]

Is the connection Wireless or Cable - If cable then you are likely to be safe but with wireless all bets are off

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Which type of phone and os is on it ?
I would guess Apple/ iphone might have better security than android but that is just a guess
I would of connected through the connection way in advance of getting in the public train to be the only one capable of seeing and connecting to the cell service personally

Once you activated tethering anyone will see it just as you did and possibly they too connected to it as well.
Not sure what password you're referring to ?
So yep pretty much classified as Public unless your cell showed your device as the only one connected or asked if this is your device to approve the access

 

[Barman58]

This is a laptop to cellphone direct connection, as it is in a public place Wireless Network may be insecure as would Bluetooth as the network SSID would be visible to others - whereas if the devices are connected by a usb cable then this would be a closed loop system.

My rules when dealing with network on windows is always if there is any doubt, choose Public as this tightens up the firewall to it's most secure. In fact if you are only connecting a single device to the internet at home, it makes security sense to set the network as Public as you do not need the ports open for local comms

 

[ThrashZone]

It's not a public connection. The connection was directly to my mobile (cell) phone. .

Hi,
As stated if the "direct connection" was using a cable to each device it would be better than using the laptops wifi to connect to the cell I believe is what Barman is emphasizing