wireless & security

Hi, we have been going to a study group at one of the group members
house.She has wireless in her home. Many of us bring our Laptops and are
able to aquire her wireless signal (unsecured Linksys) without needing to
use a password;and without fuss.
Although, the people in our group seem to be decent and all; Still, what can
I configure on my laptop to ensure that no one is stealing my passwords,
files, etc. Plus, we might use another persons house too or even one of
those 'free wireless spots'-
Please tell me what I can uncheck/check on my LT settings to make it safer-
Windows Xp home Sp2-windows firewall, antivirus & spyware security installed
Thanks in advance!

Not sure what LT settings are. But if you enable the SP2 firewall with no
exceptions, you effectively block incoming connections.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

"Cynanthis" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:OB##(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi, we have been going to a study group at one of the group members
> house.She has wireless in her home. Many of us bring our Laptops and are
> able to aquire her wireless signal (unsecured Linksys) without needing to
> use a password;and without fuss.
> Although, the people in our group seem to be decent and all; Still, what
can
> I configure on my laptop to ensure that no one is stealing my passwords,
> files, etc. Plus, we might use another persons house too or even one of
> those 'free wireless spots'-
> Please tell me what I can uncheck/check on my LT settings to make it
safer-
> Windows Xp home Sp2-windows firewall, antivirus & spyware security
installed
> Thanks in advance!
>
>

Hi
If you would have Wireless security On it would not matter for this purpose.
Wireless security is Not a traffic password into the computer, it just
allows Wireless Logon to the Wireless Router, what you are afraid of is
invasion through File Sharing.
So unbind File sharing for the duration that you are there.
http://www.ezlan.net/network/Wireless1.jpg
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"Cynanthis" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:OB%23%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi, we have been going to a study group at one of the group members
> house.She has wireless in her home. Many of us bring our Laptops and are
> able to aquire her wireless signal (unsecured Linksys) without needing to
> use a password;and without fuss.
> Although, the people in our group seem to be decent and all; Still, what
> can I configure on my laptop to ensure that no one is stealing my
> passwords, files, etc. Plus, we might use another persons house too or
> even one of those 'free wireless spots'-
> Please tell me what I can uncheck/check on my LT settings to make it
> safer-
> Windows Xp home Sp2-windows firewall, antivirus & spyware security
> installed
> Thanks in advance!
>
>

In addition to the others suggestions I usually surf the internet,
send/receive email, etc while at unsecured wireless hotspots through a VPN
tunnel back to my home LAN and my personal ISP. All traffic is encrypted by
the tunnel so I am safe from snooping.

Of course you need to setup a VPN server at home in order to do this.
Personally I use OpenVPN running on an XP Pro box at home as my VPN server.

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

"Cynanthis" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:OB%23%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi, we have been going to a study group at one of the group members
> house.She has wireless in her home. Many of us bring our Laptops and are
> able to aquire her wireless signal (unsecured Linksys) without needing to
> use a password;and without fuss.
> Although, the people in our group seem to be decent and all; Still, what
> can I configure on my laptop to ensure that no one is stealing my
> passwords, files, etc. Plus, we might use another persons house too or
> even one of those 'free wireless spots'-
> Please tell me what I can uncheck/check on my LT settings to make it
> safer-
> Windows Xp home Sp2-windows firewall, antivirus & spyware security
> installed
> Thanks in advance!
>
>