Am I secure from network monitoring software if HTTPS is used?
Am I secure from network monitoring software if HTTPS is used?
I will be logging into my bank account and my personal email accounts at work. Its not banned at work, but I just don't want them to save/log a copy of whatever I do with these services. Especially my passwords.
"Before answering: If a browser warns you a site is using poor encryption or supplying incorrect identity information, it's important to read the error, understand it, and think hard about whether you want to continue.
Short Answer: Yes, if you're using a trusted device
Long Answer:
If someone is monitoring your connection from another computer (somewhere between you and your bank) and you are using HTTPS, and they are using signed certificates with a suitably strong algorithm, then you are in the clear. (Unless they save the data for years and later read it after the algorithm is broken - but they'd likely be better off breaking into your house and stealing your stuff ;) ).
Chances are, if it's your bank, then they are using signed certificates with a suitably strong cipher. You can verify this by looking at the SSL information for the page, which should be displayed if you look at the page info, click on the Blue or Green name to the left in the address bar with Firefox 3.5, or click on the lock to the right in the address bar in IE8. Firefox will also display the encryption algorithm used if you select More Information after clicking on the coloured area.
If you don't trust the device you're using to connect (such as a computer that is not your own that could have been modified by others), then it's of greater concern. Now, your workplace is likely not going to do anything illegal like look at your banking information; but it is possible for SSL to be undermined if your system is compromised. It could be that your computer is configured to accept certificates signed by a proxy (inspection of the certificate or certificate pinning would thwart this). However, surveillance could be anywhere - a keylogger wouldn't even need to defeat SSL to capture your banking credentials, for instance. SSL makes it so you don't need to trust the connection between two trusted endpoints, but if the endpoint itself is untrusted, all bets are off."
"Generally speaking, you are safe.Because the when you visit the website of bank through https connection, all data like user name and password are encrypted, it is hard to decrypt it in a very short time, unless they know the encryption algorithm very well. However, there's other attack such as key logger,man in the middle will work if they are knowledgeable.Always pay attention to the environment before you enter the sensitive information."
Effectively you are safe simply because generally network admins have better things to do. Technically, no, your data is not safe. You didn't say what field you were in, but call center work for example will have systems that are extremely monitored. Data encryption doesn't matter if keystrokes are being logged and the screen captured as a part of normal operation. If you are worried that admins may be inclined to look at your bank account information, then DO NOT use your work computer for banking.
"Companies often use proxies and firewalls for network analysis, but you can be sure that https traffic cannot be sniffed by any of them. That's the basic principle of https, to prevent a man-in-the-middle attack."
"It is possible to save packets and break rsa encryption later on, though since the Internet is based on packet switching it is unlikely that any attacker would have enough substance to reconstitute TCP packets.
