If you find yourself having to use an internet café or unsecured wireless connection how can you quickly increase your security? The risks are many keyloggers, viruses, malware or and insecure connection.

Before you go surfing:

1. Anti-virus/spyware/malware scan using Panda’s webpage – it only takes about a minute to run
2. Anti-keylogger scan using a free tool such as this
3. Hotspot Shield a free program with PC and Mac versions available if you are on an unencrypted wireless connection. Its supported by adding banner adverts to the web pages that you visit.
4. Quit Google Desktop if its installed or every webpage you visit or document you open may end up in Google’s index (on the computer you’re using – not the internet). To do this right-click the Google Desktop icon on the task bar then click Exit then Yes.

Once online:

1. Some pages offer the choice of using a secure or insecure connection, chose a secure one when you have the choice.
2. Sometimes you can just add an “s” to http in the address bar so http://www.example.com becomes https://www.example.com
3. Force your web-based email to use a secure connection if possible in Gmail just use the trick above or click here.
4. To enter your passwords its best to use a virtual keyboard controlled by the mouse.
5. Don’t tick boxes which say things like “Remember me on this computer”.

When you’re done:

1. Clear the web browser cache (in Firefox go to Tools > Clear Private Data)
2. Close all programs that you’ve been using. Don’t forget to close programs like Skype that may still be in the task bar (right-click then quit or exit).

See also

Posted on Sunday, January 20th, 2008 in: Tips.