7 tips for working securely from wireless hotspots

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Wireless hotspots are changing the way people work. These wireless local area networks (LANs) provide high speed Internet access in public locations—as well as at home—and require nothing more than a notebook PC with a wireless card. From coffeeshops to restaurants, airports to hotel lobbies, hotspots are ubiquitous. They are the de facto connection method for travelers and remote workers to access the Internet, their e-mail, and even their corporate networks.

Hotspots range from paid services, such as T-Mobile or Boingo, to free connections at your local coffee shop or library. But they all have one thing in common: These are all open networks that are vulnerable to security breaches. And that means it's up to you to protect the data on your PC. Here are a few tips to make working in public locations more secure.

Try to choose more secure connections. It's not always possible to choose your connection type—but when you can, opt for wireless networks that require a network security key or have some other form of security, such as a certificate. The information sent over these networks is encrypted, which can help protect your computer from unauthorized access. The security features of different networks appear along with the network name as your PC discovers them.

Make sure your firewall is activated. A firewall helps protect your mobile PC by preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to your computer through the Internet or a network. It acts as a barrier that checks all incoming information, and then either blocks the information or allows it to come through. All Microsoft Windows operating systems come with a firewall, and you can make sure it's turned on.

To activate the Windows XP Firewall

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. display:none

2. In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections. display:none

3. In the Network Connections window, under Network Tasks, click Change Windows Firewall Settings. display:none

4. In the Windows Firewall dialog box, on the General tab, ensure that On is selected. display:none

To activate the Windows Vista Firewall

1. Click Start and then click Control Panel. display:none

2. In Control Panel, select Network and Internet. display:none

3. Under Windows Firewall, click Turn Windows Firewall on or off. display:none

4. Ensure that On is selected. display:none

Monitor your access points. Chances are, there are multiple wireless networks anywhere you're trying to connect. These connections are all access points, because they link into the wired system that gives you Internet access. So how do you make sure you're connecting to the right one? Simple—by configuring your PC to let you approve access points before you connect.

Configure Windows XP Access Points

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. display:none

2. In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections. display:none

3. In the Network Connections window, right-click Wireless Network Connection, and then click Properties. display:none

4. In the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box, on the Wireless Networks tab, make sure that the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings check box is selected. display:none

5. Under Preferred networks, make sure that the name of the network that you want to connect to is highlighted, and then click Advanced. display:none

6. In the Advanced dialog box, click Access point (infrastructure) network only, and then click Close. display:none

7. Click OK. display:none

Configure Windows Vista Access Points

Windows Vista takes the guesswork out of connecting to hotspots because you are automatically prompted to approve new connections. In addition, after you approve a connection, you assign it a profile for future use. display:none

Disable file and printer sharing: File and printer sharing is a feature that enables other computers on a network to access resources on your computer. When using your mobile PC in a hotspot, it's best to disable file and printer sharing because when enabled, it leaves your computer vulnerable to hackers. Remember, though, to turn this feature back on when you return to the office.

Disable file and printer sharing in Windows XP

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. display:none

2. In Control Panel, click Security Center. display:none

3. In the Security Center window, click Windows Firewall. display:none

4. In the Windows Firewall dialog box, click the Exceptions tab. display:none

5. On the Exceptions tab, under Programs and Services, clear the File and Printer Sharing check box and then click OK. display:none

Disable file and printer sharing in Windows Vista

1. Click Start and then click Control Panel. display:none

2. In Control Panel, select Network and Sharing Center. display:none

3. Under Sharing and Discovery, turn File Sharing and Printer Sharing to off. display:none

Make your folders private. When the folders on your mobile PC are private, it's more difficult for hackers to access your files.

To make a folder private in Windows XP:

1. Click Start, and then click My Computer. display:none

2. In the My Computer window, double click the drive where Windows is installed, and then double click Documents and Settings. display:none

3. Double click your user folder, right-click the folder that you want to make private, and then click Properties. display:none

4. In the Properties dialog box, on the Sharing tab, click Do no share this folder, and then click OK. Repeat the steps above for each folder that you want to make private. display:none

To make a folder private in Windows Vista

Windows Vista not only makes folders private by default, but it also requires passwords for shared folders. As a result, you're already covered! But if you want to double check, simply right click on the folder in question, and select Properties. On the Security tab, you can review the set permissions. display:none

Encrypt your files. You can protect your files further by encrypting them, which requires a password to open or modify them. Because you must perform this proc