Using WiFi in Europe??

mancunian_lady

Hi,

We're going on holiday touring around Europe at the end of this week and we are taking the laptop with us and we would like some advice regarding WiFi security.

We currently use Windows Defender, Avast anti virus, Spyware Terminator and Spyware Blaster is there anything else we should install before we go and what will it achieve?

We want to use the hotel internet access but we're a little worried as to how we can make the laptop as secure as possible so no one will be able to hack into and gain access to our files, not that there are many on there, we tend to keep them on a memory stick.

We have only used our own WiFi router before at home which has it's own security so we're not really sure how using it at a hotel or cafe will work.

Please can someone give us some advice?

Thanks and best wishes.

devizes18193

some sort of firewall , like zone alarm maybe?

DCFC79

Usually if you want to use a hotels/cafes wifi you will have to ask for the passphrase and the name of the network i guess,

Tallymanjohn

If you're planning on using your laptop on any public network, even in the UK, you really need something better than a mixture of freeware tools - a complete suite like Kaspersky or even the newer Norton is far better. Take a network cable with you as many hotels have wired facilities rather than wireless in the rooms & make sure you know what the charges are beforehand.

bookduck

you want your laptop be be as secure as your home PC (bar man in the middle attacks)? Boot up cd (best way), but hdd can be used too. Connect via an SSH tunnel to your home pc. SSH2 is better than 1. Also you can control your home pc via vnc.

If your ONBOARD nic supports it, and most do set up PXE boot, and you can remotely boot your pc by sending it magic packets.

mancunian_lady

Thanks to all so far!

I was wondering about taking a network cable as most of the hotels have WiFi and I have noted the charges form the webistes (most are free), although I will check again when registering.

I don't think I will be buying any tools before I go away so what is the next best freebies - do you think I should install Zone Alarm, I have had this on a desktop PC before now, but haven't put it on this laptop so far.

mancunian_lady

Sorry Bookduck - you lost me after the first few words!!

DCFC79

mancunian_lady wrote: »

Sorry Bookduck - you lost me after the first few words!!

bookduck was basically saying you could boot up the home pc by using the laptop

bookduck

I do not think a firewall will really help you. It may hinder you from being hacked, the virus checker may stop malware, however at the end of the day your transmitted and recieved data is not secure.

Usually hotels etc. have a common passphrase and either is known by all, or guessable

gaming_guy

bookduck wrote: »

If your ONBOARD nic supports it, and most do set up PXE boot, and you can remotely boot your pc by sending it magic packets.

isn't that Wake-On-Lan?

timbim_2

If you're connecting to banks etc, then you're secured by https, which will protect all data transfered. As for people hacking in, chances are slim and keeping docs on a memory stick won't help. Turning off wifi when you're not using it may be a good route to go down.