[Solved} What precautions should I take when using Public WiFi?

[Jam_On_Toast]

Hello,

 

I would like to use free public WiFi to download several gb of Vista updates on a newly installed PC (as it is expensive to do this on my mobile broadband).

 

What precautions should I take to prevent any malicious activity on my PC?

 

Before connecting to the public wifi I will already have installed SP2 and will have Malwarebytes AntiMalware, Avira and MSE installed, I will also have the Vista firewall turned on.

 

Is there any other free software that you'd recommend I install before using public WiFi?

 

from

James

[KenB]

Starbuck or etavares are probably the best equipped to answer this.

 

Avira and MSE installed

You should not have 2 AVs running on the system. They will conflict.

 

I did find this:

10 tips for using Public WiFi

[Jam_On_Toast]

That was a good article.

I found the 3rd tip to be what I needed.

 

Thanks

 

Also,

MSE and Avira have not conflicted (yet) even after 10months,

whereas Avast or AVG plus Avira would conflict on an almost daily basis!

As soon as it happens I will remove MSE (as it has never detected anything)

 

Thanks again

[etavares]

Hello,

 

You should be OK, but make sure it's at least a semi private network with a password if possible (such as at a coffee shop for paying patrons). It's still public, but at least it will limit the people on the network. Don't websurf while you're there at any site that requires a log in and password, unless the internet address starts with HTTPS instead of HTTP...that extra "S" means better security. The tips in the article KenB provided are good.

 

I will still echo what KenB says about running two antiviruses. Even with out a straight up conflict, they still fight for access to files and will slow down your system. There can also be false positives as a result. They're not designed tor run more than one together.

 

-etavares

[Jam_On_Toast]

Hi,

 

Thanks to the two of you, I feel confident with what I need to do and I will be uninstalling MSE and just using Avira.

 

James

[KenB]

Thanks to the two of you

You are welcome.

 

You are making the right choice in uninstalling one of the AVs.

 

Good Luck.

[Ninawang]

Aw, this was a really quality post.