How to make WIFI connection secure

phil-k · 3 Mar 2012 at 23:15

Is there a programme or way to make a connection to a public WIFI secure so nobody last tap into what you are doing
Thanks

TNGL · 3 Mar 2012 at 23:57

Using SSL versions of the websites?

Mattus · 4 Mar 2012 at 00:09

Tor (slow but free)? Secure VPN (fast but not free)?

phil-k · 4 Mar 2012 at 08:42

Mattus said:
Tor (slow but free)? Secure VPN (fast but not free)?

Thanks for the reply, are there any others people can recommend, I have found AnchorFree - Hotspot Shield, has anyone used it
I would obviously prefer a free programme preferably easy to use, one click to switch on and off, just to keep logging in details away from prying eyes
Thanks

KIA · 4 Mar 2012 at 11:36

http://hotspotshield.com/ & http://cyberghostvpn.com/ are free.

http://hidemyass.com/ & http://strongvpn.com/ are decent paid solutions.

J.B · 4 Mar 2012 at 16:40

Most sites that require log in details should be SSL secured anyway, as long as you don't get any odd certificate errors you should be ok. Although ocuk forums don't

KIA · 4 Mar 2012 at 18:53

J.B said:
Most sites that require log in details should be SSL secured anyway, as long as you don't get any odd certificate errors you should be ok.(

Unless someone is attempting MITM using sslstrip.

tntcoder · 4 Mar 2012 at 18:58

KIA said:
Unless someone is attempting MITM using sslstrip.

In which case the omission of the padlock symbol on sites that you care about should be indication enough

phil-k · 4 Mar 2012 at 21:42

I tried hotspot shield and while it was enabled I could access my files from another pc on my network, does that mean it isnt working or is this correct

PistolPete · 4 Mar 2012 at 21:51

I've never used or heard or if before, but as you are accessing files locally (ie not over the Internet) I'm guessing that's normal.

J.B · 4 Mar 2012 at 21:54

phil-k said:
I tried hotspot shield and while it was enabled I could access my files from another pc on my network, does that mean it isnt working or is this correct

It means you have sharing enabled.

In Vista and 7 you can assign network locations, if you set it to Public it will disbale shares on that network

phil-k · 4 Mar 2012 at 22:05

so its nothing to do with the programme not securing my laptop then,
is there a way of testing if this type of programme is actually working and doing what its supposed to
Thanks

KIA · 5 Mar 2012 at 10:29

phil-k said:
is there a way of testing if this type of programme is actually working and doing what its supposed to
Thanks

Open a browser and go to http://ipchicken.com/

The IP address shouldn't match the home/hotspot IP address. You should have an American address if you're using Hotspotshield. You can go to whois.sc/ip_goes_here if you want to learn more about the address.

phil-k · 5 Mar 2012 at 13:41

KIA said:
Open a browser and go to http://ipchicken.com/

The IP address shouldn't match the home/hotspot IP address. You should have an American address if you're using Hotspotshield. You can go to whois.sc/ip_goes_here if you want to learn more about the address.

Thanks for that, I have downloaded another programme, cant remember the name its on my laptop, but I checked my IP address with that running and it showed as Germany, which obviously hides my true IP address, but it still doesnt prove that someone couldn't snoop on my logins as I type them in etc, or does it

KIA · 5 Mar 2012 at 14:19

phil-k said:
Thanks for that, I have downloaded another programme, cant remember the name its on my laptop, but I checked my IP address with that running and it showed as Germany, which obviously hides my true IP address, but it still doesnt prove that someone couldn't snoop on my logins as I type them in etc, or does it

Nobody on the local LAN will be able to sniff the Internet traffic on your machine if you're connected to the VPN.