SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
4 edits | reply to DownTheShore
Re: Best Security Software For Laptops
Here are some threads that concern wireless security at public hotspots that you may be interested in...
»Re: public unsecured wireless internet
With Vista I...
* Make sure the network type is set to Public.
* Use SSL protected email to send/receive email. Some folks only use encrypted email like PGP for example. Check with your ISP to see if they provide SSL protected email. If they don't you could use Gmail (configured properly) or a third-party site like Mail2Web.
»https://www.mail2web.com/cgi-bin/login.a···d=0&il=1
* Make sure any banking/financial sites are SSL protected.
* Use common sense when it comes to what I am doing on the public internet, ie. safe surfing so to speak.
I use the built-in Windows Firewall (I feel safe with that) and a good anti-virus program. I used AVG 8.5 free in the past and Windows Defender but have recently started using the beta Microsoft Security Essentials package instead.
Some folks go so far as running their web surfing through VPN links or web surfing anonimizers (is that a word?) while on public networks. Personally I am no longer that paranoid although I have done that in the past.
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"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Desktop Experience |
DownTheShore
Maddie Knows Poopie
Premium
join:2003-12-02
Beautiful NJ
clubs:
| My laptop has McAfee Virus Scan Plus installed on it, so that's providing me with an AV and a FW program. It also has an anti-spyware component. What I don't like about this program is that it's not very configurable, and a lot of tasks occur automatically (like file removal and quarantines) that don't give me a yea or nay vote first. (Just FYI, I'm also running WinPatrol Plus, Mamutu, Spyware Blaster, and SuperAntiSpyware on it, so I've got the major bases covered).
What I haven't done yet is take this laptop into a public location and tried to hook up to the internet via a hot spot. Frankly, I don't know how this laptop should be configured for that, other than the current network connection is configured as "public".
Is is better to put one of those internet security suites on a laptop? Do they recognize when you are connected to internet in a public setting and make changes to your setup to protect the computer in a different way? Is there a particular AV or FW that's better for a laptop situation? I will be away from home for a while this summer and plan to take my laptop with me, and will be using internet connections other than my hoime location.
I'm a total newbie re home networking but I'm afraid to play around with the settings in case I change something and leave some aspect of the laptop vulnerable to attack. I am currrently using a wireless router at home with WPA2 encryption, a nondescript SSID and a very strong password.
--
Patriotism is not waving a flag, it is living the ideals
Bush & Co. didn't keep us safe - 9/11 happend on their watch! |
