Laptop Next

The availability of Wireless Internet access is at most of the locations like bookstores, airports, coffee shops, and most of the hotels and malls all around this world. The safety is however an important issue in this case and much of a concern. While using wireless access, you must have noticed that most of the notebooks connect to “Any available network” or connect automatically to non-preferred network. Though convenient, it is also very risky. These options enable your laptop to get connected indiscriminately to any strongest wireless signal available which implies that there are no controls or encryption in place to prevent sending and receiving your data in simple and plain text (data becomes vulnerable to be read by anyone with proper tools). There are sites available that can provide a good read to keep windows XP from connecting or getting connected indiscriminately to such open networks.

There are additional security concerns in case of Windows XP and 2000 which have a feature known as dynamic local linking. In case there are no networks available, these operating systems can create their own LAN using this private 169.254.x.x range of IP address and then broadcast their availability utilising the same SSID from their last wireless connection which was successful. Thus, though establishing a local network becomes easy with the use of this feature is becomes prone to attacks by exploiters.

In the vicinity, any laptop that visited the same hotspot last, might be able to connect automatically. Laptops may also be configured deliberately to exploit those who visited last hence, to prevent dynamic local linking exploitation; you should configure automated wireless connections so that they can connect to “Access point or infrastructure networks only”.

Another safety issue arises when Printer and File sharing is enabled in your PC or laptop which makes any of the folders that you shared with someone in Windows XP Home, to become available to anyone who uses the same wireless network as you, thereby becoming able to access your data. If people are susceptible to unauthorized access, then worms and viruses can get easy access to your system too. Disable File and Printer sharing while using wireless hotspot; you can enable it again on returning to your home/office.

How Starbucks help and protect you?

T-mobile is the provider of wireless internet services at Starbucks. The hotspots of T-Mobile offer 802.1x authentication standards and also Wi-Fi Protected Access or WPA, i.e. they provide more than just the basic WEP encryption. The security service is chargeable but then you are paying for much better security, so it shouldn’t pinch your pocket. Apart from Starbucks, many airlines club, Kinko’s, The Hyatt, Borders, Red Roof Inn have T-mobile hotspots.