Free Wi-Fi? Great! Here's How to Keep Your Data Safe
Yesterday, Dave told you about free Wi-Fi offerings from Bing, Google, and Yahoo. Gotta love free, right? Just one problem: public hotspots like these can pose a serious security risk.
Identity thieves and other miscreants may be lurking around, waiting for their chance to sneak into unprotected PCs -- like yours! So don't give them the chance. PC World lists five ways to protect yourself at public hotspots like Google's. Here's one example:
If you're conducting business or sharing sensitive information, it's best to use a virtual private network (VPN), which creates an encrypted, private link across a public network.Good advice, but the author explains only what to do, not how to do it. Fear not: Business Hacks has your back. To learn more about VPNs, check out Consumerist's Idiot-Proof Way to Securely Use Public Wi-Fi and Web Worker Daily's Free VPN Solutions.
The other tips are worthwhile, but I really think the VPN option is the most bulletproof solution. Agree? Disagree? Share your thoughts in the comments.