Help needed to secure WiFi.

Hello Everyone, Just moved into an apartment that has free Wifi. I have never used Wifi...know nothing about it except that it is unsecured and not private. The router is on a different floor and I do not have access to it. There is a Starbucks in the building and they use the same Wifi. If someone could help and answer a few questions: Can someone from their computer see what I am doing on my computer? Can someone get into my computer and get information from files, email, and passwords, etc? The password to get on line is the same for everyone in the building including Starbucks...there is no way for me to have a different one. ...so it is common to everyone. [one thing good about it is that it is free.] To add to the problem...the building is made up of condos used as apartments...and some being rented by the night, so that my neighbors change very frequently. I am worried that someone next door can access my computer...and can get my passwords for my banking accounts, PayPal,etc. I don't have the knowledge to know if this is possible. But since all connections are common...it scares me. I have called my isp and they can not even install a private cable to my apartment. Thought about getting something like a Verizon card but it is so expensive. Are there any programs that prevent privacy problems. I saw your link to the top free VPN's. Would a VPN be the way to go? Which is the best free one to use for my needs? Would a pay one be better for me and worth the extra $$? Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

If you are using a public wi-fi, make sure you have:

1. A strong Firewall like Online-Armor or an Internet Security solution like Kaspersky or Norton.

2. A good browser: Internet Explorer 9 or Firefox or Google Chrome.

3. Use a VPN, I recommend ProxPN for (US ip address) or CyberGhost (European)

4. If you are worried about Online banking, I suggest you use a Sandboxed browser and a virtual keyboard.
You could also use an anti-keylogger like Spyshelter or Keyscrambler .

You can also try a secure password manager like Keepass Password Safeor Lastpass

Sandboxie
Virtual keyboard

5. Clear your browser cookies and contact form data. In Firefox> History> Clear History. You could use Ccleaner to clear the cookies after you are done browsing.

All the products I have mentioned are free, (except for Norton and Kaspersky). The Blue text are linked to the software's homepage :)

To stay extra safe, run a weekly scan with Superantispyware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Ashwin,
That is what I call great detailed help :first:. You went to all the effort to even add the links to the homepages.

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Originally Posted by Mike

Ashwin,
That is what I call great detailed help :first:. You went to all the effort to even add the links to the homepages.

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Thanks Mike :)

The links will save a few precious minutes, no need to google for each one :p

Thank you for the detailed and great help!!!! You are truly a Super Moderator...thanks again.

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Originally Posted by bayviewbabe

Thank you for the detailed and great help!!!! You are truly a Super Moderator...thanks again.

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You are welcome :yo:

This wont be enough. I would strongly advice you to use a limited user account and another Administrator account both secured by passwords, so even if someone tries to acess your pc the password would be needed. Even in my shared wire line internet i can access other users media libraries.

2- Whenever you use the internet through the wi-fi make it as public or non-trusted in your internetsecurity. Select public mode in your windows firewall prompt.

3- Go to network and sharing center through control panel and select change adapter settings on your left pane, Go to your network adapter, right click, select properties, de select client for microsoft networks and file and printer sharing.

4- Go to network and sharing centre as aboveand on the left pane select the third(last option). Now disable file and printer sharing and turn off network discovery. This would not allow others to connect to your pc.

5-Internet Security Software ? Virus, Malware, Identity Theft Protection, Backup | Comodo. You can buy this product which has trustconnect secure wifi encryption. This is comodo internetsecurity complete and if u want is available at amazon ofr 20$.

Thnx.

Just to add some things to what Ashwin recommended:
1) Always update your browser
2) Whenever you can, use https instead of http (facebook, twitter, banks, etc)

All of you are great...I will post back within a week after I put your changes into effect and let you know what I have done and how things are going with security changes... thanks again

Ashwin summed it up all.

Great help bro!!!


My suggestion - get ur own paid connection.

We are here to help each other and I am just trying to do that :grouphug:

I am in the process of using all of your suggestions but I wanted to add some information that I just found out. Today, we had a building meeting. I mentioned that the wireless comes up as insecure. He said the wireless is secure...I called the isp company...They said it was secure. I can not believe that this wireless is secure...and... to my knowledge if this is the case...it would be the only time a connection that is shared with Starbucks is secure. Is there a way for me to test the connection to see if it is secure ... so that no information can be hacked? Is there a better way to technically ask the isp if it is secured and how can they prove it to me? Thanks again to all... Should I start a new topic with this question?

You don't need to start a new topic as others will answer here. I have a friend that recently had a posting about this topic which you might want to check out here ----> How to stay safe over public / free Wi-Fi connections etc..

Hi Mike, I read your reply too fast and thought you said to start new thread...if you think it is repetitious please delete it...thanks for giving your friends link.

We can leave the new thread.

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Originally Posted by bayviewbabe

Hi Mike, I read your reply too fast and thought you said to start new thread...if you think it is repetitious please delete it...thanks for giving your friends link.

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As Mike mentioned I left the thread as such, but closed it

Hello Everyone. I am just about finished implementing all of your suggestions.
The only problem so far has been the VPN.
For your own information, I emailed several of the companies that were on your list and that were suggested. Most did not respond regarding basic questions...so I crossed them off the list...
The only ones to respond with good info was Proxpn and another company Raptor. I could not find what type or security Raptor used so I didnt install. [Raptor gives unlimited bandwidth while Proxpn gives 100 with option to buy more]
Installed Proxpin...very easy...does slow down browser but I expected that.
Proxpin has only one access point [Florida, USA] with free service so might not be good for everyone.
I want to thank Everyone for your great suggestions.

Please do not close thread because I will have a question on Win XP...public or private.
Thanks again...:wave:

VPN is a virtual private network that establishes an encrypted tunnel between your home PC and a remote server. You can be surfing on the internet in the United States but the VPN will show that you are somewhere else like Italy. Since your IP Address will show up as a different location, you will finally be able to enjoy the websites that have restrictions to other countries. You should be able to switch your locations with ease. This data transfer is also highly encrypted so that you are secure too. Security is maintained because people to whom you are communicating will not be able to trace your original location but that of server location that your VPN is using.