Enticed by Google's free airport Wi-Fi to lug along a laptop this holiday season? PC World reminds us that taking a few precautions in how you connect is a very wise move.
Photo by Mr.Thomas.
Google's Wi-Fi hotspots will probably be fairly well-marked, or at least under a partner name like Boingo. Those might not have tight WPA2-level security, however, and other hotspots might be even less secure. PC World suggests ensuring that your system has automatic Wi-Fi connections turned off, device or media sharing disabled, and, unless you're just reading articles and surfing around, using a VPN connection for anything involving accounts and passwords.
How to create a VPN in a public space? Web Worker Daily and eHow both have fairly good tutorials. If you've got your own tips on safe public browsing, share them in the comments.
Google's Free Airport Wi-Fi: Five Ways to Protect Yourself [PC World]