public Wi-Fi hotspot security

I've done some searches on this issue and the advice I usually see is
to use your company's VPN server. But what steps can a person who
does not have access to a corporate VPN solution take to shield their
internet activity from eavesdroppers while using a public AP? I'm
running good firewall and antivirus software on my WinXP notebook so
I'm not particularly concerned about the integrity of the notebook
itself. I'm referring specifically to the transmissions between my
notebook and the AP that may be picked up by someone using a sniffer
program. For example, if I'm checking my Yahoo email accounts, the
login page is secure but the actual emails I send or receive are not
protected... and many sites (e.g. the NY Times) have no protection at
all for logins. Is it therefore best to confine my wireless internet
activity at public APs to simple web-surfing so logins, passwords, and
other sensitive info can't be read by snoopers?

Thanks!
-Matt

"Paul T Wang" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<xfKQa.353$(E-Mail Removed) gy.com>...
> "Matthew Laumb" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> > I've done some searches on this issue and the advice I usually see is
> > to use your company's VPN server. But what steps can a person who
> > does not have access to a corporate VPN solution take to shield their
> > internet activity from eavesdroppers while using a public AP? I'm
>
> Do you have a home computer that's always-on ? You can set up VPN (PPTP) and
> let your laptop connect to it.

No... I only have the notebook.

"Matthew Laumb" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> "Paul T Wang" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:<xfKQa.353$(E-Mail Removed) gy.com>...
> > "Matthew Laumb" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> > > I've done some searches on this issue and the advice I usually see is
> > > to use your company's VPN server. But what steps can a person who
> > > does not have access to a corporate VPN solution take to shield their
> > > internet activity from eavesdroppers while using a public AP? I'm
> >
> > Do you have a home computer that's always-on ? You can set up VPN (PPTP)
and
> > let your laptop connect to it.
>
> No... I only have the notebook.


I did a Google search and found one company that offer secure tunneling
service
http://www.securenntp.com/how.htm $6.95/month

I do not know its performance. Use at your own risk.

Paul T Wang <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I did a Google search and found one company that offer secure tunneling
> service
> http://www.securenntp.com/how.htm $6.95/month

http://www.boingo.com offers "personal vpn" along with their connectivity
service. Never used it.

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Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5