Best Wifi Protection?

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dswofford

18 posts

Geek

#11971 21-Feb-2007 16:09

What is the best way to protect my self from hackers etc when in open wifi network? or in genral for that matter? are there firewalls virus scanners etc?

grant_k

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#61461 21-Feb-2007 16:18

Make sure that File Sharing on your Disk Drives and My Documents folder is disabled.

And make sure that Windows Firewall is ON with no exceptions for "File and Printer Sharing". This should protect your PC at 2 levels.

If you want to go further, try to use WPA encryption to the WiFi access point although being a public access point, that may not be possible.

CrispinMullins

128 posts

Master Geek

#61463 21-Feb-2007 17:18

To protect yourself when using open WiFi networks, subscribe to a VPN service such as HotspotVPN. This will pass all of your traffic through an encrypted tunnel to its servers, either in California or Washington DC, I believe, before sending it to the Internet. Also serves as an excellent way of getting around those pesky level 7 traffic shapers. Costs U.S.$8.88 a month.

Crispin Mullins
Auckland, New Zealand

muppet

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#61468 21-Feb-2007 17:41

CrispinMullins: To protect yourself when using open WiFi networks, subscribe to a VPN service such as HotspotVPN. This will pass all of your traffic through an encrypted tunnel to its servers, either in California or Washington DC, I believe, before sending it to the Internet. Also serves as an excellent way of getting around those pesky level 7 traffic shapers. Costs U.S.$8.88 a month.

This is true, but keep in mind if you're connected to a network that hands out an address with a /24 subnet mask (for example), those people within that /24 can still "hack" your machine if it's got any holes, as the return route to them will not be via the VPN's (which will have installed a default route) but rather back via the directly connected Wireless Interface.

Of course a VPN is great for making sure all your traffic (routed over the VPN) is unsniffable, I'm not arguing that fact.

I think something better than the Windows Firewall is always a good idea, I use Comodo Firewall which is free and does a great job. It's just a firewall too, it doesn't try and throw a kitchen sink in like some of the others.

Finally, don't do this.

dswofford

18 posts

Geek

#61479 21-Feb-2007 19:06

hmmm this is a pocket pc.

also in order to let public open wifi connection in dont you have to let hackers in?>

CrispinMullins

128 posts

Master Geek

#61480 21-Feb-2007 19:12

I don't know anything about protecting PocketPCs with firewalls etc., but I'd like to point out that the VPN thing is still an option if you're using a PocketPC. It certainly eliminates a large chunk of the risk.

Crispin Mullins
Auckland, New Zealand

freitasm

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#61481 21-Feb-2007 19:28

Don't worry with Firewalls or AV on Pocket PC. It will only use memory and protect against something that doesn't exist.

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muppet

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#61484 21-Feb-2007 20:14

dswofford: hmmm this is a pocket pc.also in order to let public open wifi connection in dont you have to let hackers in?>

Ahh. Slightly different. Ignore everything I said in my previous post.

Be careful when logging into any sites that aren't using HTTPS, as anyone could easily sniff you data (i.e. your username and password) Just think when doing anything "Do I care if anyone sees everything I am doing, passwords n all" when online. Browsing nzherald not a problem, logging into TM might not be such a good idea...

I doubt your Pocket PC itself is at risk of being hacked though.