10.9. Hot Spot Security: All Versions One of the greatest computing conveniences of the new millennium is the almighty public wireless hot spot, where and your WiFi laptop can connect to the Internet at high speed, often for free. There are thousands of them at caf s, hotels, airports, and other public locations (see www.jiwire.com for a national directory). But unless you're careful, you'll get more than a skinny latte from your local caf if you connect to their hot spotyou may get eavesdropped on as well. It's theoretically possible for someone sitting nearby, using free and easy-to-find shareware programs, to "sniff" the transmissions from your laptop. He can intercept email messages you send, names and passwords, and even the images from the Web pages you're visiting. Now, there's no cause for alarm; you don't have to sell your laptop and move to the Amish country over this. There are, however, a few simple steps that will go a long way toward keeping yourself safe: -
Tell Windows it's a public network . When you first connect to a wireless network, Windows Vista asks whether it's a public or private one. Choosing Public gives you extra built-in protection. Technically speaking, Vista turns off network discovery , the feature that makes your PC announce its presence to others on the network. (Unfortunately, lurking criminals using special scanning software can still find you if they're determined.) -
Turn off file sharing . You certainly don't want any of your over-caffeinated neighbors to get access to your files. Turn off file sharing by going to Control Panel Control  "Set up file sharing."Turn off file sharing and Public folder sharing. -
Watch for the padlock . You generally don't have to worry about online stores and banks. Whenever you see the little padlock icon in Internet Explorer (or whenever the URL in the Address bar begins with https instead of http), you're visiting a secure Web site. Your transmissions are encrypted in both directions, and can't be snooped. -
Look over your shoulder . Hacking isn't always high-tech stuff; it can be as simple as "shoulder surfing," in which someone looks over your shoulder to see the password you're typing. Make sure no one can look at what you're typing. -
Don't leave your laptop alone . Coffee has a way of moving through your system fast, but if you have to leave for the rest room, don't leave your laptop unattended. Pack it up into its case and take it with you, or bring along a lock that you can use to lock your laptop to a table. -
Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) . Even if somebody intercepts your "hi, Mom" email, it may not be the end of the world. If you're doing serious corporate work, though, and you want maximum safety, you can pay for wireless virtual private network (VPN) software that encrypts all of the data that you're sending and receiving. Nobody will be able to grab it out of the air using snooping software at a hot spot. For example, HotSpotVPN (www.hotspotvpn.com) costs $3.88 per day or $8.88 per month. You get a password, user name , and the Internet address of a VPN server. Go to Control Panel Network and Internet Network and Sharing Center "Set up a connection or network." Select "Connect to workplace and follow the prompts for creating a new VPN connection with the information provided to you by HotSpotVPN.  |
