Wireless hotspots are have significantly altered the way people work. These wireless local area networks (LANs) provide high speed Internet connection in public locations—as well as at home—and need nothing more than a mobile PC with a wireless card.
Hotspots are a regular connection method for travellers and remote workers to browse the Internet, check their e-mail, and even work on their company’s networks while out of the office.
Hotspots range from paid services, such as T-Mobile or Verizon Wireless, to public, free connections. Hotspots can be found anywhere, ranging from coffee shops to libraries to cafes to restaurants.
One thing that these hotspots all have in common is that they are all open networks that are vulnerable to security breaches. And that means it's up to the user to protect the data on your PC
It is not always possible for users to select their connection type—but if possible they should opt for wireless networks requiring a network security key or have some other form of security, such as a certificate. The information sent over these networks is encrypted, which can help protect computers from unauthorized access. The security features of different networks appear along with the network name as your PC discovers them.
A firewall helps protect a mobile PC by preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to your computer through the Internet or a network. It acts as a barrier that checks all incoming information, and then either blocks the information or allows it to come through. All Microsoft Windows operating systems come with a firewall.
It is likely that there will multiple wireless networks anywhere a user is trying to connect. These connections are all access points, because they link into the wired system that gives Internet access. Users can ensure that they are connecting to the right one by configuring their PC to let them approve access points before they connect.
File and printer sharing is a feature that enables other computers on a network to access resources on your computer. When you are using a mobile PC in a hotspot, it's best to disable file and printer sharing—when it's enabled, it leaves the computer vulnerable to hackers.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
1.Click Security Center, and then click Windows Firewall.
2.Click the Exceptions tab, and then under Programs and Services, clear the File and Printer Sharing check box.
Making the folders on a mobile PC private, means that it's more difficult for hackers to access files. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
1.Click the drive where Windows is installed, and then click Documents and Settings.
2.Open your user folder, right-click the folder that you want to make private, and then click Properties.
3.On the Sharing tab, click Do no share this folder, and then click OK.
Files can be further protected by encrypting them, which requires a password to open or modify them. Because this procedure can only be performed on one file at a time, users should consider password-protecting only the files that they plan to use while working in a public place.
If users are working with extremely sensitive data, it might be worth them removing it from their mobile device. Rather they should be saving it on a corporate network share and access it only when necessary. That way, they will have multiple safeguards in place.
A few simple precautions can help make working in public places more secure