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Wireless networking technologies make home networks a lot more fun and easy to use, but you don't have to leave Wi-Fi behind when you leave home. A hotspot is a wireless network that is open to public access, allowing you to access the Internet while you sip some coffee. However, you should exercise caution when using a hotspot to protect your files and computer from unauthorized access.
Protecting your files from network access
Here are some guidelines to protect your files from network access:
1. Choose Start --> Control Panel and then click the Windows Firewall icon.
 | If your Windows Control Panel is set to Category view, click the Security Center icon and then click Windows Firewall. |
2. Make sure that the Windows Firewall is turned on and then click the Exceptions tab.
3. Click the box next to File and Printer Sharing to deselect the option and click OK.
Blocking File and Printer Sharing prevents other network users from accessing files on your computer.
4. In the Windows Control Panel, click the Network Connections icon.
5. Right-click the network connection you use to connect to the company network and choose Properties.
6. In the Network Connection Properties dialog box, deselect the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks option (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Disable File and Printer Sharing.
7. Click OK to close the Network Connection Properties dialog box.
 | Follow these steps again to reactivate file sharing later when you are disconnected from the corporate network. |
Protecting your computer from public access
Follow these guidelines to protect your computer from public access:
1. Exercise good physical security practices by typing passwords in privacy, and by not leaving your laptop unattended.
2. Disable file sharing.
3. Install and use antivirus and firewall programs.
| If you don't have another firewall program, at least use the Windows Firewall that is built in to Windows XP SP2 and later. |
4. Disable automatic network connection.
| If you leave automatic network connection enabled, your computer may connect to rogue wireless access points that mimic the hotspot to steal your passwords and other sensitive information. |
5. Check the SSID of the network you are joining, as shown in Figure 2, and only connect to networks with a known and trusted SSID.
The owner of the hotspot should provide you with the proper SSID. If you don't recognize a network's SSID, don't connect to it.
6. Disable your wireless radio when you are done using the wireless network.
Figure 2: Don't connect to unknown and untrusted networks.
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