Windows 8.1: The Missing Manual

Hotspot Security

One of the greatest computing conveniences of the new millennium is the almighty public wireless hotspot, where you and your WiFi-enabled laptop can connect to the Internet at high speed, often for free. There are thousands of them at cafés, hotels, airports, and other public locations (see www.jiwire.com for a national directory).

But unless you’re careful, you’ll get more than a skinny latte from your local café if you connect to its hotspot—you may get eavesdropped on as well. It’s possible for someone sitting nearby, using free shareware programs, to “sniff” the transmissions from your laptop. He can intercept email messages you send, names and passwords, and even the images from the Web pages you’re visiting.

Now, you don’t have to sell your laptop and move to the Amish country over this. There are a few simple steps that will go a long way toward keeping you safe:

• Tell Windows you’re on a public network. When you first connect to a wireless network, Windows asks whether it’s a public or a private one (see the figure on Connecting to a WiFi Network). Choosing Public gives you extra protection. Technically speaking, Windows turns off network discovery, the feature that makes your PC announce its presence to others on the network. (Unfortunately, lurking hackers using special scanning software can still find you if they’re determined.)

• Turn off file sharing. You certainly don’t want any of your overcaffeinated neighbors to get access to your files. Open the Start ...