| You've set up your Boingo account, you're | | | | going and any unusual communication between |
| hanging out at the Home Turf sports bar in LAX | | | | applications.Hot Spot Security: Less Simple |
| and you figure you'll do a little business or check | | | | StuffBeware the Evil TwinOtherwise known as |
| your e-mail while sipping a Chardonnay. Well, that's | | | | 'Rogue Hotspots' or the 'soft AP attack' this Wi-Fi |
| the point of Wi-Fi hotspots; being able to take | | | | version of the e-mail Phishing scam is perpetrated |
| care of a few things while in a relaxing | | | | by hackers who jam and mimic the signal and |
| atmosphere.Don't, however, get so relaxed that | | | | SSID of a legitimate hotspot. They then serve up |
| you ignore security and give all your confidential | | | | a sign-in page garnering usernames, passwords |
| information to some unscrupulous hacker. Yeah, | | | | and, in some cases, credit card numbers. If they |
| you see the guy. He's over in the corner wearing | | | | go so far as to allow a connection to the Internet |
| that fake nose and glasses with the ridiculous | | | | they're then in the position to intercept |
| Bozo the Clown cap. Yep, drinking a Blatz. Dead | | | | unencrypted traffic as well as any files open to |
| give away.Sorry, they won't be that obvious, I | | | | sharing (Don't Share!).There are a few things you |
| doubt they ever drink Blatz and very seldom | | | | can do to protect yourself from 'Evil Twins':Don't |
| wear clown caps. When you're thinking back, | | | | set your Wi-Fi card to allow automatic connection |
| trying to remember who was around when your | | | | to any available network.Check the list of available |
| password was stolen, you probably won't | | | | SSIDs to make sure you're connecting to the |
| remember the woman in the tastefully tailored | | | | right one.Turn off the ad-hoc mode allowing other |
| business suit, and if, by chance, you do, she won't | | | | clients to connect directly to you.Turn off your |
| be the one you suspect. The best defense is to | | | | Wi-Fi card entirely as soon as you're finished.Use |
| implement some simple security practices and | | | | the personal or enterprise version of 'AirDefense', |
| measures that will safeguard your business and | | | | whichever may be appropriate.Although a firewall |
| personal information.Hot Spot Security: Simple | | | | won't keep you from connecting to an 'Evil Twin' |
| StuffBe aware of those around you.When you're | | | | it will help to safeguard your information should |
| considering Wi-Fi security in public places one of | | | | you inadvertently fall victim.Encrypt Confidential |
| the first safeguards is anything but high tech. | | | | InformationData that's transmitted between |
| Remember a few years ago when people were | | | | yourself and a secure Web site can be counted |
| getting huge phone bills because someone was | | | | on to be safe from the Starbucks Snidely |
| watching as they keyed in pass codes? It's still | | | | Whiplash so when you're purchasing goods, or |
| happening to Wi-Fi network subscribers. Do what | | | | banking on-line, you can do so without fear. When |
| you can to keep prying eyes from your | | | | you're logging onto the secure portion of the site, |
| keyboard and screen. You pay good money for | | | | however, you may be doing so without the |
| your monthly subscription and there's no reason | | | | protection of security so be careful to note |
| to let anyone piggyback or steal your credit card | | | | whether or not the sign in page is secured |
| number as you sign up for a daily use fee at | | | | (https).When sending e-mail there are a few |
| Starbucks.Speaking of passwords:Those of us | | | | things you can do to safeguard yourself. For |
| who toil and travel are prime targets for those | | | | example, instead of using Outlook or Thunderbird, |
| who may be of the persuasion to purloin. In other | | | | take advantage of your ISP's Web interface |
| words, it's quite possible to be targeted for laptop | | | | which, in most cases, will be secure and should |
| theft. Use a complex password to protect your | | | | protect your data during transmission.If you |
| files, folders and laptop from access by those | | | | frequently encounter the need to send large files |
| villains of concourse and lobby.Don't Share!Yes, I | | | | via e-mail then using a compression program will |
| know, mothers have been telling us to share for | | | | meet your need to reduce the size of the file and |
| centuries but, at least while using a Wi-Fi hotspot, | | | | most compression programs will also secure the |
| make sure you disable file sharing. It might be | | | | data with encryption.Another option is to use a |
| great for the home and good at the office but it's | | | | free encryption program like Cryptainer LE. |
| disaster in the making at your favorite coffee | | | | Cryptainer LE can encrypt any or all the files |
| house.Use a Personal Firewall.If you're using a | | | | stored on your hard drive, protecting them in |
| corporate laptop make sure you talk to your IT | | | | case your laptop is stolen or compromised, as |
| department before you install any firewalls but if | | | | well as allow you to e-mail them with the security |
| the laptop you're using is your own let me | | | | of encryption. Cryptainer PE is also offered for |
| suggest downloading a copy of ZoneAlarm. There | | | | enterprise applications.Use a Virtual Private |
| are others of course but, for personal use, since | | | | NetworkThink of a virtual private network (VPN) |
| ZoneAlarm is free and seems to test better than | | | | as a solid conduit, or tunnel, between your laptop |
| the rest I can't see a reason to recommend | | | | and your company's network. By using a VPN |
| another.Most of the reasons for using a firewall | | | | your communications will be as secure as they |
| should be self-evident but, to say the least, you'll | | | | would be if you were sitting at your desk. |
| want to be made aware of any traffic coming or | | | | |