Connecting to Guest House Wireless Network

[axel]

I am going to be working away from home for the next few months and have some questions about connecting to the Internet via the guest house wireless network. I am also new to wireless networking so the basic questions are included.

I have a new laptop with Vista and the wireless apparently already set up.

1. What is the normal way to connect to the guest house wireless router with Vista and what passwords ect. do I need from the landlady?

2. How secure is it and is it possible for the landlady or anyone else with the password or encryption key to access information on my computer, webpages I have visited, or passwords that I have typed into a web page?

3. I have my C:\ drive set to "share" so that I can access it at home from my desktop for transferring files. Is this a security problem on an unknown wireless network and should I switch the "share" off when away from home?

4. Any other do's or dont's?

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Axel

 

[Daegan]

1. What is the normal way to connect to the guest house wireless router with Vista and what passwords ect. do I need from the landlady?

Assuming the wireless interface is enabled you should have an icon in the system tray. If there are wireless networks in range you should just be able to click the icon and choose the wireless network to connect to. Which network you connect to, what it's called and what password you need will depend on how the wireless network is configured and what security it has, if any.

2. How secure is it and is it possible for the landlady or anyone else with the password or encryption key to access information on my computer, webpages I have visited, or passwords that I have typed into a web page?

3. I have my C:\ drive set to "share" so that I can access it at home from my desktop for transferring files. Is this a security problem on an unknown wireless network and should I switch the "share" off when away from home?

When you connect to the wireless network you'll be prompted to choose the type of network, set it to public and your computer won't be discoverable. Password protected sharing would prevent anyone gaining access to your shares anyway. Yes is would be possible for anyone on the network to sniff unencrypted data. Typically though passwords will be typed into secure webpages (https) and encrypted by SSL.

4. Any other do's or dont's?

Beyond web browsing consider any other applications you use and whether the data they transmit is encrypted (and whether you care about it). For isntance if you use an email client enable SSL or TLS for the incoming and outgoing connections.

 

[malef!c]

If you have a server at home try ssh tunneling from your laptop to your home box then out.
All comms from your laptop to your box is then encrypted and safe from prying eyes.

I did that when I was out in the States in a hotel - worked a treat.

 

[axel]

If you have a server at home try ssh tunneling from your laptop to your home box then out.
All comms from your laptop to your box is then encrypted and safe from prying eyes.

I did that when I was out in the States in a hotel - worked a treat.

Sorry, I do not have clue what you are talking about! I did say I was new to this.

I have desktop computer at home and no wireless connection or wireless router.

What is ssh tunneling?

What is a home box?

What is a box?

Thank for trying to help but???

Axel