Security when using WiFi Hotspots & Hotel Wireless Access

Crystal44

Hi All

I travel frequently and always take my laptop. In terms of security I currently have the free Microsoft security essentials and Mozilla Firefox. I often use airport Wifi hotspots and hotel internet access which always gives a warning that it's unsecured and that others may be able to see what I'm doing online. In her book Suze Orman advises not using hotspots for internet banking. My question is this, how do I ensure that I'm safe online if I have to use a hotel or hotspot for banking? I'm concerned about the warning that comes up with unsecured access. Is there a way to check if someone is watching what I'm doing online?

I was told today that Mac PCs have inbuilt security so users do not have to worry about additional security. Is this true and if I bought a Mac would that eliminate my concern about doing internet banking using hotspots?

Crystal

elvch01

Obviously unsecured access is not good since the traffic is not encrypted, and I would also use a firewall so your laptop cannot be attacked/hijacked by anybody else using the same hotspot. Internet banking is almost always done over SSL (https://...) pages so the traffic cannot be seen so the generl method of attack in hotspots is to try and hijack the laptops and most hackers etc target PCs, so it could be argued that a Mac is "safer" because it is less likely to sucumb to anybody attacking it simply because they are attacking weaknesses in M$ windows.

SkemTec

I would recommend a VPN connection. This can be used anywhere and is safe. It is also encrypted. You can also have different IP's with the VPN's so it appears you come from another country
I use ACEvpn who are cheap, reliable and have good support.

Hope it helps

elvch01

+1 for VPNs - I host and use my own based upon openVPN (free)

bryanb

SkemTec wrote: »

I would recommend a VPN connection. This can be used anywhere and is safe. It is also encrypted. You can also have different IP's with the VPN's so it appears you come from another country
I use ACEvpn who are cheap, reliable and have good support.

Hope it helps

Please would you explain what you mean by VPN, I'm non techie.

elvch01

A VPN is a Virtual Private Network - in essence it is an encrypted "tunnel" through the internet to wherever the VPN server happens to be. In my case, when using my VPN, all my internet traffic goes through this tunnel which exists bewteen my laptop & my house and then pops out onto the "real" internet as if it originated in my house in the 1st place. Thus nobody can see what I'm doing in my laptop because all the traffic goes through the VPN tunnel

bryanb

elvch01 wrote: »

A VPN is a Virtual Private Network - in essence it is an encrypted "tunnel" through the internet to wherever the VPN server happens to be. In my case, when using my VPN, all my internet traffic goes through this tunnel which exists bewteen my laptop & my house and then pops out onto the "real" internet as if it originated in my house in the 1st place. Thus nobody can see what I'm doing in my laptop because all the traffic goes through the VPN tunnel

Thank you. Does it affect speed?

kwikbreaks

bryanb wrote: »

Thank you. Does it affect speed?

The $64,000 question
Of course they do.
They also significantly slow down the speed a scam artist can steal your identity and money though.

elvch01

yes - speed is an issue with all VPNs - they effectively operate at the speed of the slowest part of the chain - which in my case is my 1.5Mb upload speed on my home broadband connection, so its OK for generally browsing, but not video streaming.

tryingtoretire

Try Hotspot Shield from anchorfree.com. Your connection will run a little slower but it's o.k. for most uses, especially when using unsecured wifi hotspots.
I understand that firewalls will not protect hackers from accessing your emails as you are downloading them but using a VPN like Hotspot shield protects you.
Don't shout at me if I've been given the wrong info. Sourced the info from a BBC program on the subject.

delorean_2

Alternate solution:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Disgo-Yoggie-GateKeeper-Pico-Software/dp/B001LK7HY0