How can I protect my privacy while using a public network?

Question

Is there any way to? Maybe using a proxy or scrambling your actions?

I want to protect things like my credit card and SSN. Any tips?

Answer 1

make sure you have a good internet security,

if you want to get a free but good one try zonealarm

if you want better google them and you can subscribe for a good but expensive one, i suggest norton internet security

Answer 2

first of all it never hurts to be safe and not put critical information on the internet

last year a person scouted around a hotel network and was able to scout everything out

passwords etc

If you can be as conservative as possible on a public network

by the way zone alarm is for nubes

Answer 3

If you really want to be safe on a public network, setup an encrypted VPN on your home system and simply logon to that everytime first. (this of course assumes you are using your laptop etc for access, don't do that on a Library Desktop without fully deleting the connection and all temporary files before you leave!)

That way everything you send will be through an encrypted VPN tunnel and unreadable to anyone "sniffing" the public system!

Microsoft has a good article on PUBLIC networks for you.

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/yoursel...

One quote there. "If you want to be safe, avoid typing any sensitive information, such as your credit card number or any other financial information, while you use a public wireless network."

Then the tip that follows. "Tip: If you must enter credit card numbers while using a public wireless network, make sure there is a locked padlock icon at the bottom right corner of the browser window, and make sure the Web address begins with https: ("s" for secure)."

If you use ONLY secure https communications OR you use your own VPN (encrypted one!) then, and only then are you safe on a public network for anything you type in or send over the system!

To protect your machine, turn OFF file and print shares and use a firewall and antivirus!