| So you go to your local café hotspot, sit | | | | legitimate one in order to acquire sensitive |
| down with your trusty laptop and casually order a | | | | information such as passwords, account details, or |
| hearty cup of dark roast coffee. After 30 | | | | credit card numbers. Is one of the scams Firefox |
| minutes of checking your email, the weather, and | | | | and Internet Explorer try to warn you against. |
| writing your latest blog in MySpace, you decide to | | | | Both browsers have built in phisihing detection. |
| call it a day. Unknown to you, the guy at the | | | | Unfortunately these warnings, which are displayed |
| corner table, the one quietly reading his paper | | | | at the top of your browser are often ignored or |
| sipping java, has just stole your recently typed | | | | shut off completely because of the small |
| user names and passwords, and got a kick out of | | | | inconvenience some believe it imposes. |
| the angry email you sent to your boyfriend. | | | | To check weather or not your browser is |
| Luckily he was doing it just to see how easily it | | | | protecting you from Phishing scams, first make |
| could be done, and decides to delete your | | | | sure you are using the latest version of the web |
| personal information. | | | | browser of your choice. For Internet explorer, |
| Think this cant happen? Well think again. It does | | | | open your browser and click tools, Internet |
| happen, and it occurs more often then you think. | | | | options; click the advanced tab. Scroll down to |
| We need to be more aware of the potential | | | | security. Once there, look for phishing. Make sure |
| dangers that exist while using hotspots. This | | | | turn automatic website checking is checked. To |
| article will walk you through the steps needed to | | | | check phishing filters in Firefox click on the |
| keep you safe while accessing local hotspots. Its | | | | Security preferences pane. On Windows and |
| time to tighten up your laptop security, and | | | | Linux, go to Tools, Options and then Security. |
| practice some safe browsing habits. While it is | | | | VPN or Virtual Private Networks are an excellent |
| very important to use firewalls, and antivirus | | | | form of security when accessing hotspots. Many |
| programs, I want to focus more on the less | | | | companies, particularly large enterprises, offer |
| obvious steps you can take to protect yourself. | | | | their employees Virtual Private Network |
| Lets start with your Laptops network settings. | | | | connections to the company's network and the |
| Many laptops are set to search and connect to | | | | Internet. VPNs use encryption and other security |
| the nearest hotspot. While this option might seem | | | | methods to give wireless network users the |
| convenient, it does not allow you to monitor | | | | same kind of privacy that wired networks |
| which hotspots you are logging on to and | | | | typically have. |
| determine if they are legitimate. | | | | Lets move on to some things you need to be |
| Turning off this option will prevent your computer | | | | aware of at all times. Before you enter any |
| from logging on to a hotspot without your | | | | private information in wireless hotspot or |
| knowledge. To see how your Laptop is setup, | | | | anywhere on the Internet for that matter, make |
| click start. Go to the control panel. Click network | | | | sure you look for the lock icon within your |
| and Internet connections; from there click | | | | browser. This lock indicates that the website uses |
| network connections. There you will see wireless | | | | SSL encryption and it is safe to enter personal |
| network connection. Right click on that icon and | | | | information. Most websites will also include "https" |
| click properties. Click the wireless networks tab. | | | | in the beginning of the website address. The "s" at |
| At the bottom you will see an advanced tab, click | | | | the end indicates a secure encrypted website. |
| that. Finally make sure you uncheck "Automatically | | | | What this mean to you is your personal |
| connect to non-preferred networks." Once this is | | | | information is encrypted or scrambled once |
| done you will now have to manually search for | | | | entered, and makes it nearly impossible for a |
| and connect to new access points, which is what | | | | hacker to decode it. |
| we want. | | | | Another tip although quite simple is, be aware of |
| Now make sure you know and pay attention to | | | | your surroundings. You do not want someone |
| the SSID you are connecting to. The SSID is the | | | | looking over your shoulder while you are browsing |
| name of the network you are accessing. Hackers | | | | the Internet, or typing in your email password. |
| will often imitate as closely as possible, the original | | | | Speaking of email, when checking your email |
| SSID name. It is also a good idea to turn off file | | | | account at wireless hotspots, it is a good idea to |
| sharing, especially if you do not use this feature. | | | | get into the habit of using web based email |
| By doing so it will help prevent anyone other then | | | | programs. Most legitimate Email providers will |
| yourself access to your files. Many web browsers | | | | provide SSL security so your user name and |
| used today such as Internet explorer and Firefox | | | | passwords you enter are encrypted and kept |
| have built in security features to help warn you of | | | | safe. By following these simple procedures, you |
| suspicious and non-encrypted websites. | | | | will greatly improve your security and prevent |
| Phishing, which is a form of identity theft that | | | | your private information from getting into the |
| occurs when a malicious Web site impersonates a | | | | wrong hands. |