Hardware Security: Network, Wireless, Firewalls and Routers

[Feb 04 from Intel Wireless Security Resource Center] To make network access easier for their users, public hotspots typically leave all security turned off. This means that all the data you send from a hotspot is probably unencrypted, and that anyone sitting within range of the wireless LAN – either at a nearby table or outside in the parking lot – can access your Internet connection or look at your unprotected information. Therefore, when you unwire at a café, airport, or other public location, a few simple measures will ensure your security.

Install a personal firewall. Firewalls can prevent anyone from accessing your notebook when you connect on the go. Some more sophisticated products will even alert you when an attempt is being made. You can start by downloading a trial or free version of firewall software. You can then decide whether you need to purchase firewall software or hardware with a richer feature set.
Only perform financial transactions over secure servers. If someone hacks into your online session at a hotspot, they can eavesdrop on your communications, potentially capturing unsecured credit card information. To avoid this, perform transactions on secure servers that encrypt your login credentials. These servers are often referred to as SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption. SSL-encrypted sites are marked by a lock that appears in your browser. They also start with "https" instead of "http".
Turn off file and print sharing on your computer. This will prevent anyone from accessing your hard drive and looking at your files. To do this using Windows XP, go to your Control Panel, click on Network and Dial-Up Connections, find your wireless card, click on the Properties button, and uncheck the File and Print Sharing box to turn it off. (remember to turn it back on when you get home!)
Look into consumer VPN services. Although Virtual Private Networks (VPN) are generally used by company networks to provide strong authentication and encryption for hotspot communications, there are also inexpensive consumer VPN services, such as HotSpotVPN, that give you many of the protection measures that a corporate VPN would offer.

(Aug 03 - August 2003 issue of PC World magazine by Stan Miastkowski: Step-By-Step: Bulletproof Your PC With a Software Firewall For any computer with an Internet connection, a firewall is essential. The setup basics.

(July 03 - PCMagazine No Electronic Trail article by Sebastian Rupley) - If you use a public terminal or kiosk, read this article at www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1138648,00.asp "Many [public] kiosk users don't realize how much data they leave behind, nor the potential exposure to malicious code that can infiltrate their networks from that kiosk data. Twingo provides a safe, unobtrusive environment that protects both users and their employers from these hazards." Twingo is designed to provide secure remote access to enterprise data via untrusted computers such as systems at airports, cyber cafes, trade shows, and even in your own home.

(June 03 PCMagazine News) - Modem Hijacking: Modems can be hijacked to make long distance phones calls that you get billed for. Read PCMagazine's analysis to find out how this happens and what you can do to protect yourself. "Dialers" use your modem to surreptitiously dial long distance telephone numbers, running up enormous charges on your phone bill. Some operate while you're surfing the Web, dropping your dial-up connection and reconnecting you through a new number. Others operate when you're away from your machine, dialing numbers after the system sits idle for long periods of time. If you're not using your modem, unplug it.

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