PROBLEM: Having an unsecure computer in a Wi-Fi hot spot
SOLUTION: Connect to a legitimate service provider and make sure the paid service you tap into is the one advertised for that location. Resist using a free signal; it could be a hacker nearby waiting for people to use the decoy Internet access.
• Use your e-mail provider’s online Web site instead of sending and receiving mail from the e-mail software program on your desktop. Web-based services are more likely than desktop software to have an extra layer of security that protects data transmissions.
• Make the most of your computer’s built-in security features. Most PCs come with a firewall; make sure it is turned on. If you use fire-sharing services from home, turn off your file-sharing capability when you’re in public.
• Keep your automatic update feature turned on so you always have the latest versions of your software and operating systems.
• Finally, be aware of who is nearby when typing in information such as passwords.
Read the entire article here,
http://www.crime-research.org/news/02.03.2006/1857/
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