IPad AT&T 3G International Data Package Worth the $$$?

Ok so no responses. Here is my next stupid question: is it more secure to use 3G connection to access my bank account than wifi? I only use secure encrypted wi fi in the US, but want to have online access in Europe.

it's never a good idea to use any US cell data service overseas. there is plenty wifi everywhere in europe, so you should stick to that, and if possible, use skype. if you can expense data roaming charge with your boss then you may thinking about it, otherwise don't take your sim card with you.

Since I am my boss, I can expense it to my business. I just signed up for Skype. Is it safe to use wifi for banking? I'd rather not spend the money if it is redundant.

Diane, if you connect to a bank over SSL or TLS - and I cannot imagine that any bank would not be set up to do so - it is secure over wifi and over a telephone network. Everything should be encrypted. This is not to say that there aren't security vulnerabilities with secure connections. Computer scientists regularly write papers detailing ways to defeat encryption security. Are any of these techniques likely to be used against you? I doubt it. Too many easier targets available for some criminal to invest the time and money in some of these complicated ways to break your encryption or fool you into making a connection that sends data to them. It is my understanding that data connections over phone connections have their own level of encryption, so if you make a phone connection, it is double-encrypted. The phone encryption is not as secure as the SSL connection, though. A wifi connection could also be encrypted if it requires a password (although not all wifi connections over a password are encrypted). Finally, you could sign up for a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service and encrypt your Internet traffic that way, too, for two or three levels of encryption. I'd recommend using a VPN if you were going to connect to something that wasn't over HTTPS, such as some email services. (Gmail is now encrypted by default.)

Regarding your first question, here is a recent post in the "To The West" sub-forum about using an IPad. I can't recall if it talks about AT&T's International Data Package specifically, but it does talk about the costs of using data and states some different options. I posted a message in this link that links more threads. I recommend checking out the last, Cell Phone, IPhone, and the link therein that talks about the cheapest way to use data in Europe. iPad sim card for Europe

Thanks for the help. I had reviewed the earlier posts but not the one from April '11. My Ipad 2 does not accept a sim card so that is not an option. I have had an AT&T compatible GSM Palm based phone with the international plan since 2005 but I only use it for emergencies and I turn off the roaming and phone when I'm in Europe except when I need to use it. I don't have the international data package. The Ipad is new. I am new to Skype but so far am loving it and loving the cost! Paul, thanks for reassurance on checking my bank account online. In the past, I have not used my phone to check email (in the States or Europe), and I rarely use my phone for internet - too cumbersome and tiny. With the Ipad, I plan to check, especially since BOA has refused to provide me with a back up ATM card (I'm the only one on my account) as they had in the past. (Since I have encountered issues in the past with ATM's, I'm leary and cautious.) Instead, BOA has assured me that if there is a problem with my debit card (gets eatten/magnetic stripe is demagnitized) that they can get me a new card within 24-48 hours in Europe. My friend has just had her debit card used in Canada with 7 unauthorized accesses - she discovered this via online banking and was able to correct it. With this information and going outside my normal box, I'm just being very cautious - perhaps overly so. Thanks again!

Diane, I guess I'm a little confused. If your iPad can't take a SIM card, there is no way for you to use AT&T's 3G data plan. I think you understand that, but I'm saying this just in case. As for the ATM card, I'm pretty cautious, too. I always carry two ATM cards, but from different financial institutions. I've sometimes encountered problems with getting cash, but the problem wasn't the card, it was the account itself. Have you considered opening an account at a credit union and putting a little money in it before going on your trip. That would be a low-cost way of getting some insurance should you run into trouble with your BOA account. If you really want to ensure you have a card that works, set up a Schwab bank account. Schwab refunds all ATM fees charged, including international ones. And, Schwab is experienced with use of their accounts overseas. A credit union may not be.

Regarding Paul's suggestion about opening a credit union account. I have used ATM cards from two different small, local credit unions with absolutely no problems all over the world. One of them charges the standard 1% fee, and the other charges absolutely nothing additional. Ally Bank (online) also charges 1%, and refunds all ATM fees.

Let me clarify. The Ipad2 I ordered and purchased from Apple is made to be compatible for AT&T 3G + Wifi. After your response, Paul, and after much more investigation, there was to have been a sim card and sim card tool that should have opened the device - they were to have been shipped with the device. The sim card opening is very tiny and sleek. A paperclip is not working to open the device. I am going to have to go to the store to see about getting the sim card and 3G set up. I will order a small domestic plan and small international plan just in case. 250 MB domestic costs $15; 2 GB $25. 50 MB of international data is $25, up to 800 MB at $200 - all prepaid. 250 MB apparently will cover 600-700 emails and 250 web pages. Unfortunately regarding the bank, I left just enough time to request my duplicate debit card from BOA, only to find out that they "are not allowed to do that." I am leaving in 42 hours and don't have time to set up a new account.

FYI - here is my follow up - I purchased the $99 dollar AT&T International 3G Data Plan and will cancel it in the next week. It was worth the expense. As noted, my Paris hotel charged 15 Euros per day for wifi use so the plan basically paid for itself during the first 4 days. There were many places in Paris with free wifi and I took advantange of that where possible. There were also many hotels on the rest of my stay in France that claimed to have free wifi but coverage was really spotty, often not available, and sometimes it was only accessible in the hotel lobby which was not terribly convenient. I was able to have my travel questions answered, plot out my Paris Metro trips and able to stay on top of a few situations at work. Bottom line, it was worth the expense and I will sign up for the plan on my next trip to Europe using it as back up when free wi-fi is not available. Re the ATM card - no problems and I made all of my withdrawals from BNP - BOA considered it their branch so no extra bank charges were incurred.

Diane, thanks for the "follow-up" (FYI, "up" and "date" - which was the word I used the first time around - is one of those words that the board treats as some type of command so it won't appear). It is nice to know that AT&T is now offering an international data plan that doesn't break the bank. I will have to modify the advice I give about data usage in Europe. I had a similar experience with cell phone data vs. wifi. The cell phone plan I used was relatively reasonable and was available just about everywhere because all it needed was a good cell signal, which in Europe is available in all populated areas. With wifi, you are locked to a location and you may be able to get access only for a fee. I basically stopped looking for wifi after a while and just relied on the phone connection.