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Community Newsletter: Q&A: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi?
- 7/24/08 12:04 AM
Accessing WiFi in public spaces
by richj120952 - 6/27/08 7:56 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Really all you need to do is what you should do normally, even at home. You need a good firewall on your computer. If it is a Windows based machine, find a firewall like Zone Alarm or other that really does block discovery attempts. (The basic one in Windows is poor.) Be sure to disable disk and printer sharing.
Then, remember, that with a sniffer, anybody there can see your transactions, clearly. So, if you are in a position to put in a password without encryption, it is possible for someone to sniff that. Email needs to be encrypted, and it would be best to use a VPN system back to the home office. HTTPS is also encrypted, so that is somewhat safe. (Either the color of the URL line will change or a little lock will appear at the bottom bar when https is engaged.)
Then, get on, and get off ASAP. Time is an enemy. You would be surprised at the amount of information you can get on someone just sniffing the traffic. It is kind of like listening to someone on a talk on a cell phone.
Securing your computer
by caskater4 - 6/27/08 8:10 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Margaret,
The list of Dos and Don'ts you're looking for is really no different from that of the Dos and Don'ts of using the Internet. Whenever you connect your computer to the Internet, whether it be via Wi-Fi, cable, DSL or dial-up you should always follow these guidelines:
1. Install a firewall. Windows Vista and XP Service Pack 2 have a built-in firewall that is perfectly sufficient. In Vista, when you connect to a new Wi-Fi network you will be given a choice of what type of connection it is, Public, Work or Home. Always choose Public as it will set more strict rules for the firewall. Don't waste your money on third-party software here. They are often bloated and will slow down your computer. Mac OS X also has a built-in firewall and is sufficient as well.
2. Install an anti-virus. If you're using Windows an anti-virus is pretty much a must-have. Mac users often can get away with no anti-virus without concern (and love to brag about it) but there is a strong growing trend of exploits for Mac vulnerabilities where an anti-virus for Mac will also soon be a must-have. Also, its a good idea to have anti-virus installed on Mac if you have both Windows and Mac machines as you risk infecting your Windows machines through your Mac. Most of the virus' you will encounter on the Internet can easily be avoided with a basic anti-virus. However time and time again the three best anti-virus' are Norton, Kaspersky and McAfee.
3. Install an anti-malware/spyware detector. Microsoft offers a free detector called Windows Defender that works quite well. Windows Defender is included with Windows Vista but if you're using XP you will have to download it separately. I am unfamiliar with Mac OS X malware/spyware detectors, however, most of the anti-virus programs listed above now include malware and spyware detection.
4. Stay away from Internet Explorer on Windows and Safari on Mac. Internet Explorer is an open door for hackers and Safari has proven more recently to be the same for Mac. So don't use them. Firefox and Opera are excellent alternatives and often provide better features.
Now to the WiFi specific stuff...
5. Use websites or programs that send or receive sensitive data sparingly. On Wi-Fi, all communication with the Internet is obtainable. That includes information like what website you're visiting, the conversation you're having with a friend or relative or the password you entered into your online banking account. If you have to send sensitive data make sure the website has an SSL connection (https address). SSL connections are reasonably safe over WiFi but they are still not foolproof.
So that may not seem all that different or new but thats all you really need to stay safe on WiFi.
Internet away from home
by rivrsong33 - 6/27/08 8:45 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
What OS are you running? My own experience with VISTA has been a disaster. Aside from a couple of airports with free Internet, I have not had any success getting on-line away from home. I understand it can be done with reconfiguring, but I am not savvy about exactly how, and also don't want to mess with my configurations.
So I hope you are running a`pre-VISTA`OS!
in any case, avoid accessing sites where money is involved, like on-line bank and credit card accounts, or any site that would leave you open to identity theft.
Forget WI-FI
by HIGH TIME - 6/27/08 10:25 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hello Margaret, my advice is to forget WI-FI, and go with Verizon's usb modem. ( Broadband/National Access ). That way you can skip all the WI-FI hangouts, and do your own thing. i.e. Stop at an Interstate Rest Area, and go online. Have a good/safe trip.
viruses
by ruben47 - 6/27/08 10:29 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
i seem to be getting a trojen, that only way to rid is reformat my hard drive , windows xp, 40gig hard drive, with basic memory, it seems to come from downloading music from various sites.. need help i have protection setup but seems to not takecare of my issue. rub-f4@sbcglobal.net
Run a full system scan
by vishalkalani - 6/28/08 6:54 AM In reply to: viruses by ruben47Running a full system scan ,with updated definitions should detect the trojon,and ideally it should heal ,clean or quarantine it .Contact your antivirus technical support as soon as possible .
What to do to protect your wi fi labtop?
by iridious - 6/27/08 10:37 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
1 Get a firewall 2 make sure you have spysweeper. 3 Check your security enternet setting. 4 Make sure you have Antivirus ans security settings up to date. Also get a windows definder for mantenence check. It usally best to have five or more top best antivirus and spysweeper. Due to so many hackers and virusus. But becarefull sometime one may counter act another.
Use of Wi-Fi
by PeterEEvans - 6/27/08 10:54 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Wi-Fi can never offer 100% security. Many hotels provide a computer terminal for its customers for free. I use this facility when away from home wherever possible!
However, you need to know whether the area you visit will enable you to use your lap top wireless adaptor to connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots - for the answer visit www.myhotspots.co.uk
The use of Bluetooth will increase your security risk; it is best to avoid this.
While hacking into a computer is a difficult process, there are people out there who know what to do - and it only takes one to create havoc - so ensure that your security protection is up to date at all times
Get Hotspot Shield
by iisjman - 6/27/08 10:58 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Download Hotspot Shield, and run it whenever you enter an un-encrypted wifi network. It will create an inpenitrable VPN (virtual private network) tunnel between your pc and router. You are now very protected. Be aware that the free version I think has a 3gb monthly download limit, so don't use it all in one day... If you don't see how this works or want to download the program, head here:
http://anchorfree.com/downloads/hotspot-shield/
Quick safety tips . . .
by RobertWFrei - 6/27/08 11:20 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Instead of answering from a technical point of view, I will address a few items people can do to make their use of unsecured networks less of a threat. Others will do a fine job of describing the system security measures; these are intended as "social security measures"
Things to do while connected to a secure network to prepare for your insecure adventure:
1. If you may have to use a credit card online, use one such as Citibank that allows you to get virtual account numbers. Each virtual number can have a 2 month expiration date a separate credit limit from your master account, and its own 3 digit security code. You can get several of these in advance while you are on a secure connection, then use them when you have to make purchases over an insecure connection. (Caution, though the Citi card appears to have the best virtual card program, you have to use the option in small print at the bottom instead of the one in big print in the middle of the box. Go to "advanced options" and choose "Generate virtual number with time & $ limit")
2. If you use similar passwords for all of your financial accounts, change the passwords of those accounts you may access while on the road, and don't make them too easy. Make sure the password is at least 8 characters and that at least one of the characters is a numeral and at least one is upper case - but don't make them all numbers, all upper case, repeating or sequential. After you return to your secure connection, change them again if you have used them on the road.
3. Any accounts that may be used on the road, make sure you log into those accounts while you are still on your secure network, and look for the option to remember you login name. Many of them now will store your login name as an encrypted string, so when you are on the road you can type in the password without ever transmitting the unencrypted login name from your machine. That will make it more difficult for someone listening in to your transaction being able to recognize or duplicate your login/password. The same encrypted login name being sent from a different machine will have the same public key, but cannot know the private or stored key needed to decrypt the login name.
4. After your last connection to your financial sites from your home computer, connect to any financial sites with your laptop and login. Often the financial site will challenge you with an extra security connection if your previous login was from a different computer. This way you won't have to enter the answer to your extra security challenge while you are on the unsecured network.
5. Move any files that contain personal financial information from your laptop's hard drive to a memory stick, then do a "disk cleanup" to make sure your recycle bin and temporary files that may contain private information from previous sessions are cleaned up. Then when you are on the road, make sure you remove the memory stick from the laptop before you connect to any unsecured router. Use the stick only when you have disconnected.
6. Password protect your laptop by requiring a power-on password. This is done in the system setup utility often accessible during power up of your laptop. Dell machines normally use F10 to access it, HP normally uses F12 and many other use either F2 or the DEL key to enter the system setup utility.
7. Be sure to turn off file and printer sharing on your laptop before you take it on the road, if you have it enabled. This is generally done in the "network connections."
8. If your computer is configured to automatically login when you boot it, or if it does not require a password, reconfigure it to ask for a password - and don't make the password too obvious.
9. If you use an email client such as Outlook Expess, configure it to download headers only instead of the entire email. That way you can screen the emails you will open while on the road, and you can avoid opening up any emails that may contain private financial or personal information or passwords. Ordinarily the mail client downloads the entire message, possibly making the contents of the message vulnerable to snooping.
10. Make sure all operating system and application security patches are up to date, and that your antivirus and other threat prevention/detection programs are completely updated. When you are on an unsecured connection is not the best time to do the updates.
11. Check your Microsoft Security Center to make sure there are no outstanding alerts about possible security vulnerabilities on your computer. If there are any, address them before you leave.
Once you are on the road, observe the following precautions:
1. Watch when you are connecting that the name of the wireless router you are connecting to is the real router name. These days the desk or the clerk will have that information available. I saw one hijack attempt in which the strongest signal was coming from "Comfort net", but the correct connection was to "Comfort Inn." I was in the back corner of the Comfort Inn and their signal was much weaker at that point. The stronger signal was from someone in a van in the parking lot - until the police arrived.
2. Watch your back. It may seem "un-cool" or paranoid to check for people watching your online activities, but it is much better to be un-cool than a victim. Position yourself such that your body or your bag prevents others from clearly seeing your keyboard and screen. Be aware of who may be watching you - be a little paranoid even.
3. When computing in a public place, turn down the backlighting on your screen so the screen is still readable to you, but someone farther away would have a tough time reading it. You may also wish to use a higher-resolution display setting so the letters on the screen appear smaller, and therefore more difficult to read from a distance. (Keep reading glasses handy instead of using giant fonts.)
4. Avoid connecting to sites that may have your financial & personal information unless you absolutely need to use them.
5. When you no longer need to use the connection, right-click on the wireless icon in your system tray and actually disconnect. Just closing your browser does not disconnect you.
6. Keep a log of any purchases you make and the account you used, then reconcile them with your statements as they arrive after your trip.
7. Don't leave your computer unsecured in your room while you are gone - and certainly not logged in and ready to go. Make sure it is shut down and that you have configured it to require a power-on password and a windows login password.
Things to do when you get back to your secure environment:
1. Change the password on any email accounts that have been used while on the road. If someone was snooping, they could have intercepted your email client as it connected to your mail server. Changing the password when you get home makes sure that anyone who may have gained access to your email account can no longer do so.
2. Change the passwords on any financial accounts you used while on the road.
3. Watch your statements and make sure the only charges made were the ones you logged. Follow up on any inconsistencies or charges that you may not have made.
4. Cancel any unused virtual account numbers you created before you left, and change the dollar maximum to match what you actually charged to them.
There are probably other ideas too, but these should be considered "basic." Computers are very useful on the road, and they can be very safe as long as you take precautions.
So far, Robert, you have the BEST anwer IMHO!!!
by btljooz - 6/28/08 2:24 PM In reply to: Quick safety tips . . . by RobertWFreiDoing ALL of that no matter what OS you are using should thwart all but the most 'convicted' (pun intended) nefarious individuals. As a guy commented before, Linux is a much smaller target...add to that all of the advice Robert gives, one should be able to navigate practically unscathed!!!
Remember Me Box
by gtmark1 - 7/20/08 2:27 AM In reply to: Quick safety tips . . . by RobertWFreiHey Robert-
this is the first time i ever got a clue as to what that box meant (and i've clicked many thinking i wouldn't have to type it again).
but your part one number 3 leaves questions. if i do what you propose from my secure network at home, does that mean if i used my desktop at home and used a public terminal (such as at a librairy) on the road, that i couldn't log on?
i ask you for further explanation on this point.
thanks,
gtmark1
Your quick safety tips...
by GiGiof2 - 7/20/08 4:57 AM In reply to: Quick safety tips . . . by RobertWFreiI am printing your list and will carefully study it...I'm a REAL newbie to this tech stuff and have a 5 month old HP laptop which I enjoy....it's at Firedog now getting the OS reinstalled cause of a bad
message about Windows indexing...which I don't understand.
Now that it will be returned to me w/ nothing on it, do you have suggestions for the BEST and SAFEST programs that my husband will install. After reading all the CNET responses, I'm getting paranoid about taking the laptop on trips....the router is attached to our desktop at home and I do no financial stuff on the laptop....can hackers get to our financial stuff on the desktop thru my WiFi laptop?
This is probably a very basic dumb question, but I use the laptop for
emails, pictures and games...and worry about people getting into the other stuff.
Thanks for any other advice you can give me.
GiGiof2
32bit or64bit
by petite1945 - 6/27/08 11:42 PM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I would go with 64bit if I could afford it.
But Microsoft offer Windowsxp pro (64bitsystem) that works!
Ive heard that Vista Is Ready, but and operating system is one thing and the (********** Software) you will use with it, is just not there yet. If you give it another year, (Functioning Software), such as, cd programs by other than microsoft, just are not there yet.
Your computer is not safe on the wi-fi
by manwantok - 6/28/08 12:39 AM In reply to: What are the dos and don'ts for using public Wi-Fi? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Margaret,
Unfortunately, I hate to say it, but wi-fi is one of the most unsafe ways of using the internet today. While I doubt your computer will get a virus or spyware when using a wifi network, the major risk you face is a hacker intercepting your connection between your laptop and the wi-fi router at the coffee shop. When this happens, even if you use an HTTPS (Secure encrypted) web site, the hacker can still intercept every keystroke you type, thus allowing them to get your passwords to all your bank accounts, email accounts, and other systems.
That is the main reason it's very important to not do anything mission critical or secure over a public wireless network. Don't login to your credit cards of bank accounts. And, if you use a web email such as hotmail, yahoo, etc, then be sure and change your password regularly if you're using it over wi-fi.
I'm probably being ultra paranoid, but all it takes is 1 hacker with a few tools that are readilly accessable by searching on google, and they can compromise your connection, even if it's encrypted or secure.
Try to find WIRED internet access, where you can plug the ethernet cable into your laptop. If not, then just be careful.
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