Checklist for safe Laptop use in Public?

[Rockrz]

OK, I saw a TV spot on the news where they were talking about the dangers of using your laptop to surf the net in public using a hotspot.

They were saying that scammers often setup fake hotspots to try to lure you into connecting to them so they can do bad things to you like get into your system to steal data or maybe install spy programs, etc....OR, some may have ways or trying to break into your system while connected to the net using a hotspot.

So, this got me to thinking...is there some sort of checklist of things that can be done to protect your computer from being hacked while using a public hotspot?

I've installed AVG Internet Security on my laptop which has firewall and anti-virus. But, aren't there some settings I should change to make my system harder to hack into?

Let me know if anybody knows of anything that would go on a list of things to do to a laptop before taking it out in public. Thanks.

[Cat-tranz]

Yes there are, if you are using Wi Fi please do change the Router name and Password also DO ENCRYPT And stop other people using your connection.
One of the key technologies behind WPA is the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP). TKIP addresses the encryption weaknesses of WEP. Another key component of WPA is built-in authentication that WEP does not offer. With this feature, WPA provides roughly comparable security to VPN tunnelling with WEP, with the benefit of easier administration and use.
One variation of WPA is called WPA Pre Shared Key or WPA-PSK for short. WPA-PSK is a simplified but still powerful form of WPA most suitable for home Wi Fi networking.
To use WPA-PSK, a person sets a static key or "passphrase" as with WEP. But, using TKIP, WPA-PSK automatically changes the keys at a preset time interval, making it much more difficult for hackers to find and exploit them. This tutorial is two years old but is of use

WPA - PSK - Step-by-Step

[Rockrz]

I've had someone recommend that I keep things simple and go with the personalVPN at WiTopia >> personalVPN and let them provide the secure connections.

It appears to be a decent setup

[Cat-tranz]

Users choice honey

[Alan]

I was once recommended to get an automatic shotgun, suppose it works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rockrz]

Originally Posted by Alan

I was once recommended to get an automatic shotgun, suppose it works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think that's going to help me with using my laptop safely.

[Cat-tranz]

Originally Posted by Rockrz

I don't think that's going to help me with using my laptop safely.

[pharoah]

Originally Posted by Rockrz

I don't think that's going to help me with using my laptop safely.

it may keep someone from stealing it.

[Rockrz]

I still don't get the guy's reply about someone once recommended that he get a shotgun.

That has nothing to do with the service provided by Witopia, which is a company he knows nothing about. I'm assuming he's knocking their service as being no good?

[Alan]

The reply was meant to be a light hearted reply against thieves!!!!

That has nothing to do with the service provided by Witopia, which is a company he knows nothing about. I'm assuming he's knocking their service as being no good?

Are you assuming that I know nothing about Witopia? and you are way off track to assume I was knocking their service.

[Rockrz]

Sorry. It seemed kinda like a smart aleck remark, which I couldn't figure out the purpose of.

[Alan]

Here is a link with some suggestions, hope it helps.

[Rockrz]

That article looks like it's for normal internet connections, and doesn't address surfing wireless with a laptop.

I think I'll just keep my life simple and go with Witopia or another like service.
It'll be for business use so any expense incurred is a tax write off.