Spyware Remover: Free Spyware, Adware Removal Programs, Popup Blockers

By Paul McGillivary

One of my favorite things to do is to sit down at a wireless hotspot and cruise the internet. Another one of my favorite things is computer security. Put them together and what do you have? Well, you have a really fun time that will scare most
people. I am hoping that this article does scare you into thinking more critically about how and where you use your
computer.

Hotspots (wireless access points) are great for convenience. You can drive down to the local Panera and connect to the
internet while you eat. For business travelers this is a great service. But let me show you another side of those hotspots
that you might not have thought about. These hotspots allow all types of people to share a wireless connection. Now, most
people don’t mind that. The problem, however, is that there is going to be some people on that connection that aren’t so
nice.

You see, it’s one thing to share a network connection with someone you know and trust. It is a totally different thing to
share a network connection, especially a wireless connection, with someone you don’t know. Most people assume that because
they have an active firewall on their laptop, they are safe while cruising these types of hotspots. That is true to some
degree. Surely, a firewall will keep some malicious folks from cruising through your hard drive. But most people miss a
simple truth about wireless connections. Let me explain.

A castle has many wonderful defenses. It has a moat and a high wall. It also allows for a high defense position on the
walls. This gives the defenders an advantage over attackers. Computers that have a firewall on a network connection are
sort of like this. If they include intrusion detectors and the like, they add yet another layer of security. But what if
they send a messenger outside the walls with their defense and attack strategies? What if that same messenger also had the
keys to the front door or maybe a key to vault nearby? Do you see where I am go!
ing with
this?

Wireless connections allow other people to see that traffic as it travels to and from the access point. This is where things
get very interesting and scary. I can walk into a local internet cafe. I can connect to the network. I can scan all
computers on that network and see if they are patched or not. I am referring to known vulnerabilities to Windows machines.
I can very quickly assess whether or not that person would be vulnerable to certain attacks. But the fun doesn’t stop there.

I can also sniff internet messaging that is going on. I can watch AIM and MSN Messenger conversations in real time. I can

Now, having said that, let me say a few things. If you are establishing a secure session with an email provider or a store,
then my job becomes much harder. That traffic is encrypted. Most malicious folks are going to go after the “low-hanging”
fruit. This is a mantra of security and hacking. This means that the easiest folks to exploit are the ones that will be
exploited.

Do yourself a big favor. Never send identifying information via AIM or MSN Messenger. This is especially true
at hotspots. Never set up a non-secure FTP session at a hotspot. I’m assuming that if you’re doing FTP that you are a little tech savvy. Also, make sure you have a firewall if you are going to be hanging out. And know that the websites you frequent can be easily snooped. Do not share a connection with folks you don’t know or trust without a firewall. You are begging for trouble. Hotspots can be a great convenience, but it comes with a price. Take some precautions or you might become a vic!
tim of a
digital pick pocket.