| Thursday, August 24, 2006 |
| Public Wifi Access Safety |
If you are using sensitive information (ie. passwords, credit card numbers...) in a public wifi access area, then there are some crucial steps you need to follow to make sure that you are protected.
1. Make sure you are using the correct Access Point for the location you are in. Hackers will create their own access points within an area and make it look like the location you are in. Ask the manager of the exact name for their access point and report any suspicious looking access points that you pick up in addition to the one you are on.
2. Also, if using sensitive information is a must for you in public wifi areas, then make sure you use a VPN (virtual private network). This encrypts your communication so the data looks like gibberish to anyone trying to intercept it. If your company does not offer a V.P.N. for employees working away from the office, there are services you can subscribe to for about $10 a month that do the same thing. If not, there are free versions of a VPN on sites like sourceforge.net , but they may require a little tech savy. There are plenty of paid programs out there that might be easier to set up, but you pay for the convenience.
3. Use a firewall!!!! - CLICK HERE FOR FIREWALL HELP
4. Use a web based e-mail program that has secure encrypted connection. (look for https:// instead of http:// in the url/address bar)
5. Use Anti-Virus software (duh)
6. Update your operating system regularly - you can do this at http://www.windowsupdate.com
7. Turn off file sharing.
8. Make sure your computer is password protected - i.e. when you start your computer, you have to enter a password. This helps prevent somebody from being able to simply log into your computer.
Here's a link with more information: CLICK HERE
Here's another one: CLICK HERE
Don't know how to do some of the above steps? (Like, turn off file sharing, or set a password for your computer) - Simply Google it! Go to www.google.com, and enter what you are looking for - "how do I turn off file sharing in Windows Xp?" You'll be surprised at what you can discover! |
posted by The Knowles Family @ 10:12 AM   |
|
|
|
Updates and New Podcast
