Many businesses such as pubs, coffee shops and hotels, offer free wireless Internet access to their customers. If you have a laptop with a wireless adaptor, connecting couldnt be simpler. However, such networks are inherently insecure: they have no security enabled, so anyone is able to connect. The person sitting next to you might be a malicious hacker, intercepting the data that you send over the network on the lookout for sensitive details such as passwords and credit card numbers. This doesnt mean that you should avoid such networks, but you should use them wisely. By following the 7-point plan in this article, you can minimise the risk of hacker attack while using a free wireless network. Whats more, well also show you how to up the security on your home wireless network, to keep the data thieves at bay.
Category: Internet & Security
Issue: 2008 Issue 5 August/September
Operating Systems: XP
Article Reference: X62