Filtered Geek

Let's face it, being connected to the internet wherever you go is great, but one of scariest places to be on the internet unprotected is on hotel WiFi. Why? It's just like a coffee shop, one giant shared network, and you have no idea who is doing what on it. The Wild West of WiFi.

Stay Safe - With A Little Preparation

1) One thing you should be sure to click on when you associate to the hotel WiFi is, be sure to indicate this is a public network (Vista and above). This will disable the file and print sharing and help protect your computer from people browsing the network.

2) Along with the above tip, getting a router to use in the room is a good idea. If the hotel has LAN jacks, the setup is as simple as plugging the router in. If you have to use WiFi, you need to get a router that supports a "client repeater" mode (most do in some form). Having a router between you and the hotel WiFi works along the same lines as your router does at home. It hides your computer from the "internet" and in this case, other users on the hotel WiFi. A added bonus is that you can easily hook up multiple computers to your room.

3) If you want to dig a bit deeper, a VPN subscription gives you a private tunnel onto the internet, keeping your data safe while you use the internet. (A list of free and pay VPN's can be found here)

Always be aware of where you are getting your internet, be extra careful about using web sites that contain valuable information and don't use a HTTPS connection. Sites are being better about securing connections, but always be aware of what is going on!