marti
Color outside the lines
Premium,MVM
join:2001-12-14
Houston, TX
clubs:
| Secure laptop "on the road"
My friends have a mess and probably at least one infected computer. I am going to try to lock down their network and add more security programs to the computers.
However, this does not help when they are not at home. They always take a laptop when they are out of the house, whether business or pleasure. I know they don't understand computer security (or they would not be in this mess) so I want to lock down the laptops.
I know they get into any network available when they are not at home. Would a wireless card, such as the the ones you get from AT&T make the laptop(s) more secure? I know that I should never access my banks on an unsecure network, but I know they don't follow that rule.
Suggestions on locking down "on the road" security for laptops?
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Team Discovery |
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TearAbite
join:2001-07-25
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
 ·surpasshosting
 ·Charter Pipeline
| I always use a secure OS - I think that is the key (and i'm betting their OS is not all that secure).. I also encrypt the HDD (simple function built into my OS) in case it gets stolen.
beyond that, i try to practice safe-computing (careful with open WiFi, etc).. no matter WHAT you do to their computer and no matter what OS you use, if you can't change their behavior, nothing else really matters. |
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jefe
Premium
join:2001-05-19
Northport, NY
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to marti
I'm interested in the security pundits here opinions too marti.
I've always been more cautious when using public wifi, and less so when connected to a public wired connection, hotels and such.
A friend of mine's thinking is his Verizon wireless card is more secure than a hotel's wired network, even when using a software firewall, an a/v application, etc.
What makes him nervous is when he's in a hotel, on a wired connection, he can see other computers also on that network. I've never seen that situation. He's using a Macbook Pro. I'm using a WinXP Dell laptop.
Standing by to see how the thinking here goes. |
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Anav
Sarcastic Llama? Naw, Just Acerbic
Premium
join:2001-07-16
Dartmouth, NS
1 edit | reply to marti
»[App Update] Sandboxie Latest Version 3.39.24 Beta
Also this one has promise....
»www.gentlesecurity.com/features.html |
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marti
Color outside the lines
Premium,MVM
join:2001-12-14
Houston, TX
clubs:
| reply to marti
I was hoping that someone had an answer about a wireless card from AT&T or such to make the computer more secure. (Instead of using whatever network is available when you are out of the house or on travel.)
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Team Discovery |
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TearAbite
join:2001-07-25
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
1 edit | I'm no expert, but i think in general, using a private connection like AT&T is far more secure than using an untrusted WiFi connection.. |
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marti
Color outside the lines
Premium,MVM
join:2001-12-14
Houston, TX
clubs:
| said by TearAbite  :I'm no expert, but i think in general, using a private connection like AT&T is far more secure than using an untrusted WiFi connection.. That was my thought, as I am certainly not a laptop "on the road" expert.
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Team Discovery |
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nwrickert
sand groper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-09-04
Geneva, IL
·AT&T U-Verse
 ·AT&T Midwest
| reply to marti
Suggestions on locking down "on the road" security for laptops? The primary step should be to login only to a limited user account. Use the admin account for administrative things, but only when on a trusted network.
For banking, etc: be a bit more cautious than usual. If there are any certificate warnings, then skip the bank connection till you are on a more secure network.
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AT&T dsl; Speedstream 5100b modem; Zyxel NBG334W router; openSuSE 11.0; firefox 3.0.14 |
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marti
Color outside the lines
Premium,MVM
join:2001-12-14
Houston, TX
clubs:
| said by nwrickert :Suggestions on locking down "on the road" security for laptops? The primary step should be to login only to a limited user account. Use the admin account for administrative things, but only when on a trusted network. For banking, etc: be a bit more cautious than usual. If there are any certificate warnings, then skip the bank connection till you are on a more secure network. Thanks. That was was a suggestion I was looking for.
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Team Discovery |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
| reply to marti
If your running Windows 7 or Vista also make sure that Network Location Awareness is set to Public. That automatically configures the Windows Firewall, File sharing, Network Discovery, etc so outside users can not access the laptop. With XP configure the Windows Firewall for No exceptions.
»technet.microsoft.com/en-us/libr···110.aspx
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"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Desktop Experience |
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nwrickert
sand groper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-09-04
Geneva, IL
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Midwest
| said by SoonerAl :If your running Windows 7 or Vista also make sure that Network Location Awareness is set to Public. I think it will actually prompt you for that at each WiFi site. It seems to recognize a network by the MAC address of the router. I am going by the fact that it prompted me when I switched to a different router, even with the same router IP address.
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AT&T dsl; Speedstream 5100b modem; Zyxel NBG334W router; openSuSE 11.0; firefox 3.0.14 |
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SLD
Premium
join:2002-04-17 | reply to marti
Banks should be OK, as long as they use SSL. |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
| reply to nwrickert
said by nwrickert :said by SoonerAl :If your running Windows 7 or Vista also make sure that Network Location Awareness is set to Public. I think it will actually prompt you for that at each WiFi site. It seems to recognize a network by the MAC address of the router. I am going by the fact that it prompted me when I switched to a different router, even with the same router IP address. Both Windows 7 and Vista will prompt you for each new network, wired or wireless, that you connect to. I just wanted to make sure the OP knew to select Public. I'm afraid some users are still a bit confused about the selection or just don't read the prompt correctly and may select Private by mistake.
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"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Desktop Experience |
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SurfinGenie
Premium
join:2005-03-17
Huntington Beach, CA | reply to marti
When I use my ATT card on the road I use my software firewall just as I would wired or wireless at home.
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Surf safely !!! |
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PeteC2
Got Mouse?
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-20
Bristol, CT
clubs:
·AT&T Yahoo
| reply to marti
If you use normal, common-sense precautions, such as a properly-configured software firewall, with no file-sharing, etc. there should be few/no problems. I travel and use hotel wifi often, and have never been hacked...not once.
Certainly, public wifi is more prone to hacker activity than using a Verizon/Sprint/AT&T card, but frankly, a properly protected computer should be safe enough under normal usage.
Most folks that I see with infected computers, be they desktops at home, or notebooks on the road, almost invariably have not taken even basic common-sense security precautions.
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Deeds, not words |
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amysheehan
Premium,VIP,MVM
join:1999-12-21
Huntington Beach, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to marti
said by marti :I was hoping that someone had an answer about a wireless card from AT&T or such to make the computer more secure. (Instead of using whatever network is available when you are out of the house or on travel.) I have never been a public hotspot enthusiast.
I use my ATT card ALOT and also tether my blackberry if necessary for internet access. My firewall prompts me of the new connection and sets to public network security automatically.
Only experience with hotel wifi ended up with my one and only almost disaster in Kerrville Texas years ago where someone went and hacked into all the non secured-open wifi spots they found - I called the front desk who transferred me to the manager who I informed about the security hole in the wifi.
Just my 2 centavos
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Proud Member of ASAP
DSLR Phishtracker |
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marti
Color outside the lines
Premium,MVM
join:2001-12-14
Houston, TX
clubs: | reply to marti
Thanks for all of the comments! |
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