02.15.09
banking
I’ve been a member of a credit union since returning to San Francisco, as opposed to using a standard-issue bank. There are pluses and minuses; the pluses being lower fees and rates (ie 12% on a credit card) and the minuses being less robust infrastructure.
The other day as I was taking some cash out of the ATM. It’s on the ground floor at work, which is very convenient, at least when I remember to get cash before leaving the office. Anyway, I noticed it was taking a little longer than usual to authorize my withdrawal. Then I noticed this on top of the ATM:
Cell Signal Strength
The set of LEDs at left are labeled “Cell Signal Strength.” This does not fill me with confidence! I mean, of course the data is all encrypted before it is transmitted on the red cable (never mind the cellular phone network!), which someone could plug into a $49 router they’ve hacked to copy and forward every packet/frame off somewhere? Right? Could never be any other way, right?