Use an Anti-Virus Utility
I've never been a big proponent of flu shots. It's not so much that I don't like getting stuck with needles...okay; it is. I don't like getting stuck with needles. I can feel the serum flowing into my veins and...I know...all the doctors and nurses tell you "No; you can't feel the serum going into your veins" - but I can. So I understand people who have a reluctance to volunteer for virus vaccinations. But not when it comes to your laptop.
Lets face it, your laptop is an unfeeling, uncaring, pile of plastic and silicon chips. It could care less what kind or type of program application you should choose to stick it...I mean, install. In fact, the installation apathy displayed by your laptop causes it to be downright promiscuous - it'll allow any old program at all to become insinuated into its inner workings. And that's the problem. Without an anti-virus program application filtering out the various viruses; your laptop will open the download door to the worst kind of applications. Programs you would never willingly choose to install.
Most of the objections to installing anti-virus applications that I hear revolve around cost and convenience. I can understand this. There is nothing so irritating as purchasing a program application that you have to pay for year after year. The thing is, new viruses pop up constantly. If your anti-virus application isn't continually updated it won't be able to protect your laptop from new and mutating threats. People like to get paid for the work they do and, if the work is ongoing, they're going to want to get paid on an ongoing basis.
There are, however, a few free anti-virus programs that are well worth the time and effort it takes to install them and chief among them is the anti-virus program application that I use: AVG-Free. Most tests and comparisons rate AVG-Free near the top of their lists and AVG offers a free version of their anti-spyware application, as well. One note here. If you don't download and install the updates, available for ALL anti-virus applications, on a regular basis your protection will diminish daily. I have AVG-Free set up to automatically download and install updates on a daily schedule and I suggest you do the same.
Keep Your Operating System Updated
In the same way that it's important to keep anti-virus software up to date; it's important to download and install operating system updates. Since this can be done automatically there's just no reason not to do it. Assuming you're running Windows XP, or even Vista, all you have to do is visit the Security Center (Start => Control Panel => Security Center) and make sure that "Automatic Updates" is turned on.
Beware the "Evil Twin"
Every time you log on to a public Wi-Fi access point, like a truck stop hotspot, you're transmitting your login name and password over open airwaves; in some cases you're also including a credit card number. Given that truck stop hotspots offer an excellent opportunity for CyberCriminals to capture tons of such data, via rogue networks known as "Evil Twins", you should be concerned. A recent Wi-Fi survey conducted at Chicago's O'Hare Airport found nearly two dozen "Evil Twin" networks and it'd be foolish to assume that the thieves have ignored truck stop hotspots altogether.
So...what's a rogue hotspot? Rogue access points near legitimate Wi-Fi hotspots generally use the same SSID you'd expect see (like "flyingj", "TA" or "SIRICOMM"), but connect directly to a hijacker's database; collecting the passwords and usernames you use to sign in. Even worse, they can collect credit card data from people who sign up for new accounts.
Here's what you can do to protect yourself from the "Evil Twin":
- Check SSID list: If you're trying to connect to a Flying J or TA hotspot be certain that there's only one listed in the SSID list. If you find, for example, more than one "flyingj" or "TA" on your list of available networks, don't connect with either one until you check with management.
- Disallow automatic connections: When you make an initial hotspot connection Windows assumes you'll always want to connect to a hotspot broadcasting that SSID. You must manually change the connection protocol from "Automatic" to "On Demand". Here's a quick step-by-step guide to Disallowing Automatic Connections.
- Turn off ad-hoc mode: All of the major truck stop hotspots use access points to establish Wi-Fi connection. This type of Wi-Fi connection configuration is known as Infrastructure. An ad-hoc connection, on the other hand, is a computer to computer connection. Most rogue hotspots will be of the ad-hoc variety. Here's how to turn off ad-hoc connections.
- Use a Firewall: Although a firewall won't keep you from connecting to an 'Evil Twin' it'll help safeguard your information should you inadvertently fall victim.
In addition to the previous safeguards; when you're not using your Wi-Fi adapter, whether internal or external, you should turn it off completely. In that way you can be absolutely sure that no one else's laptop can entice your laptop into connecting to it without your knowledge.
Turn Off File Sharing
If you've got a home network, wired or wireless, you might use file sharing to copy files and folders between your laptop and desktop PCs. When you're using a truck stop hotspot, which is a public wireless network consisting of all the computers currently connected to the access point, file sharing is the last thing you want to have enabled. Here's how to turn off file sharing.
Use a Virtual Private Network
Many business travelers can use the Virtual Private Network (VPN) set up and maintained by their company. What's a VPN, you ask? Well, basically, a VPN is an encrypted tunnel through which all transmitted and received data travels. You might be thinking "well, that's all great and good if you're a business traveler but I'm a trucker and my company doesn't offer me this option." No problem. There are several companies who offer VPN services for those of us who wouldn't normally have those services available.
When I was in the process of writing Over the Road Wireless For Dummies I used a service, provided by JiWire, known as SpotLock. It worked incredibly well and I promoted it in Chapter 10. Almost immediately following my Dummies debut on bookstore shelves, JiWire ceased offering SpotLock services. I couldn't believe it. Fortunately, SpotLock was replaced by a new service: Hotspot Helper. A couple of the features available with SpotLock are missing from Hotspot Helper, like the connection management utility, but that doesn't diminish the security afforded by the VPN service one iota; and now it's cheaper.
Another service you might want to investigate is Hotspot Shield. This VPN service is provided by AnchorFree and, although it lacks the email services provided with JiWire's Hotspot Helper, Hotspot Shield's VPN seems to be an excellent alternative. It's also free! (At least for now.)
Encrypt Your Files and Folders
I cover, thoroughly, the concept of File and Folder encryption in Chapter 11 of Over the Road Wireless For Dummies so I'm not going to go into it in any detail here but I will cover it in a general sense.
You can think of file and folder encryption in the same way you might think of a safe in someone's house or place of business. It keeps someone, who's already broken into a place they shouldn't be, from accessing important documents. In other words, if someone steals your laptop, they won't be able to access any encrypted information. You can, as a matter of fact, take the encryption idea a step further and encrypt program applications like your web browser. Then, unless they know the pass code, thieves can't get your browser history because they can't open your browser.
Without getting into it too deeply, I use Cryptainer LE for file and folder encryption and WinGuard Pro to secure my program applications. Are there others? Absolutely. Tons of others. Just do a Google search for file encryption and you'll see what I mean. I don't mean to be short but I'm writing a few paragraphs here and I devote an entire chapter to the subject in Over the Road Wireless For Dummies. Encryption is an important tool and it's worth further investigation on your part.
