Wireless hotspots are changing the way people work. Wireless local area networks provide high speed Internet access in a variety of public locations such as airports, hotels, bookstores, and your local Panera Bread. So how can you keep your information safe and secure? All networks are vulnerable but here are a few simple tips to help. Activate your Firewall (included in Microsoft Windows it prevents unathorized users from gaining access to your PC). Disable sharing (a feature allowing sharing of resources off your local PC). Configuring Wireless Access Points (you can configure your local PC to prompt you before connecting to a hotspot; thus making sure you are only connected when you want to be). See instructions for preventing these vulnerabilities below:
To activate the Windows Vista Firewall
1. Click Start and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, click Network and Internet.
3. Under Windows Firewall, click Turn Windows Firewall on or off.
4. Ensure that On is selected.
To activate the Windows XP Firewall
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. In Control Panel, click Network Connections.
3. In the Network Connections window, under Network Tasks, click Change Windows Firewall Settings.
4. In the Windows Firewall dialog box, on the General tab, ensure that On is selected.
Disable file and printer sharing in Windows Vista
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Network and Internet, and then click Network and Sharing Center.
3. Under Sharing and Discovery, click the arrow next to File sharing, click Turn off file sharing, and then click Apply.
4. Click the arrow next to Printer sharing, click Turn off printer sharing, and then click Apply.
Disable file and printer sharing in Windows XP
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Security Center, and then click Windows Firewall.
3. Click the Exceptions tab, and then under Programs and Services, clear the File and Printer Sharing check box.
Configure Windows Vista Access Points
Windows Vista takes the guesswork out of connecting to hotspots because you are automatically prompted to approve new connections. In addition, after you approve a connection, you assign it a profile for future use.
Configure Windows XP Access Points
1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Network Connections.
2. Right-click Wireless Network Connection, and then click Properties.
3. On the Wireless Networks tab, make sure that the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings check box is selected.
4. Under Preferred networks, make sure that the name of the network that you want to connect to is highlighted, and then click Advanced.
5. Click Access point (infrastructure) network only, and then click Close.
Author: Josh