Security When Using Public Wi-fi

chico

What are people's recommendations for security and good practice when using one's own Windows 7 laptop on a public wi-fi network?

Lifehacker suggests
1. Turn off sharing.
2. Enable your firewall.
3. Use SSL whenever possible.
4. Consider using a VPN.
5. Turn off wi-fi when not using it.

What are people's views on measures such as using something like sandboxie (which apparently does not work for windows 7 64 bit) and using a virtual machine with say Virtualbox (which would require buying a second copy of Windows or involves the disadvantage of using a different operating system)?

I did look at the Wireless - Look here! thread but the topics there relate to one's own wi-fi network, rather than using public wi-fi.

Thanks.

victor2

Assume somebody somewhere is capturing all your traffic going over the wireless network. For that scenario, running a virtual machine or sandboxie does nothing for you.
An SSL connection will at least mean the transmitted data is encrypted, but I wouldn't use a public network to access anything involving me paying for something or accessing my bank account.
If you have the same user ID (often email address) and password for a website as one where you have the capability to spend money, don't login to any site where that password is required.

System

It all depends on how bad your paranoia is.

Simple answer is do not use your PC on a public connection for anything that you wouldn't allow a stranger looking over your shoulder to see. I.E.

If you have to use it for work then VPN with whatever encryption your company insists on

chico

Thanks for your comments.

Microsoft suggest avoiding the use of credit cards and passwords, but avoiding using passwords is too restrictive.

On-line banking should probably be avoided, although most banks, such as Barclays and Natwest, provide the one-time pin generation gadgets that are supposed to provide better protection against loggers.

I mentioned Sandboxie and VirtualBox as possible additional measures to using a firewall, to mitigate the increased risks of viruses, etc. These methods may be not be worth using because of other issues, such as the extra time, memory, and hard drive space involved.

I have seen references to a free VPN, HotSpot Shield, and will look into that.