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How do you use wi-fi on a daily/weekly basis without getting KILLED by snoopers and hackers

Cheery

By Cheery
in General Windows PC Help

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Cheery

Cheery

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Hi, I'm new to this forum. And to wi-fi surfing, too <_<

At home I use my desktop computer for work and school. But now I want to start using my laptop at a public hot spot or two: coffee shops, the library, the airport, McDonald's, etc. That means I'll be going on the Internet via wi-fi on a regular basis...and exposing myself to hackers. You know that wi-fi is super unsecure, very unsecure. Figuratively speaking, a round of Russian Roulette is a safer sport than surfing wirelessly. I understand that when it comes to safe surfing a VPN (virtual private network) is the first thing a security minded person should have on their laptop.

1) Is that true?

2) If so, can you recommend the name of a good VPN?

3) will the VPN slow down my surf sessions compared to the hard wired connection I use at home?

4) one person said that a VPN is NOT the way to go. Check this out: he said that all I need is a good firewall and a good anti-virus protection program when I go wireless in public. That sounds a little nuts. Does that sound crazy? That sounds like a prescription for a virtual suicide. Of course I have both already in place, but is that to say that that's all you need to guard against packet sniffers when you're wireless in public - a firewall and an anti-virus progam? Sounds kinda incomplete to me. Do you agree or disagree with his statement?

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Cheery

Cheery

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^^^^'Wow' on that. Just took a quick look at it (about 5 seconds). Like the price. Did not like the fact that they're customer support team does not have a phone number to call. I have zero exerience with VPN's. Maybe they're seamless and run on their own??? (Hard to fathom anything digital's not problematic.) I will definitely scrutinize their offering when I have more time. Thanks <_<

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  • 5 months later...
Cheery

Cheery

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IPREDATOR vs. HotSpot quickie shootout:

Hi I'm back with a question, other than the fact that HotSpot Shield is free and IPREDATOR costs some money, can anyone see a big difference between the two?

Might one be stronger or weaker than the other?

I see that IPREDATOR is an actual tunnel or VPN. I wonder, is HotSpot Shield a tunnel / VPN, too?

If you were to compare them side-by-side, which one, in your opinion, would win in a safe surfing shootout?

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  • 3 weeks later...
hotspot shield

hotspot shield

Posted
Posted
IPREDATOR vs. HotSpot quickie shootout:

Hi I'm back with a question, other than the fact that HotSpot Shield is free and IPREDATOR costs some money, can anyone see a big difference between the two?

Might one be stronger or weaker than the other?

I see that IPREDATOR is an actual tunnel or VPN. I wonder, is HotSpot Shield a tunnel / VPN, too?

If you were to compare them side-by-side, which one, in your opinion, would win in a safe surfing shootout?

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goldhound

goldhound

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Which version of hotspot shield and norton antivirus are you using? If you can, please email me at art at anchorfree.com and I will look into it.

thanks much!

art

NIS 2010, fully up to date with safe search, flagged the site when i clicked on it. I do not use your software but was curious.

You may wish to access the Norton forums to query them.

MBAM pro did not block the site.

Norton forums

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  • 2 weeks later...
Cheery

Cheery

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It appears that VPN services like HotSpotShield, Witopia, IPREDATOR and all the others are no good for those seeking air-tight WiFi security. Apparently there is a potential leak that comes built into them.

With those type of services, I was told, a percentage of security is compromised. Remember, the premise of this thread is that I and others like me want a security 'device' that that will instill peace of mind whenever we use the Internet at a public hot spot. And we certainly would not want any compromises, no matter how small that compromise might be. We're talking WiFi security here, so it's zero-tolerance when it comes to compromises! Based on what a network specialist that I'm acquainted with said, none of the devices mentioned thus far are any good. In so many words he said they should not be used for what I'm seeking. He said when it comes to air-tight security they aren't any good and thus a person shouldn't spend their money on them. He essentially said:

"NO, NO, NO....be it Witopia, IPREDATOR, HotSpotShield or any commercial VPN, the issue would be - do you trust any of those guys? No, of course not, you can't trust your data to a person you don't know personally. And of course some will argue, rightfully so, that you can't trust your data with those you know personally. You can't trust any of the VPN's because all your data is going to be routed through them - they will be your proxy. How do you know they aren't the bad guys? Or if someone in their data center isn't a bad guy? You don't know, it's impossible to know if they're good guys or bad guys, if they're ethical or unethical people. That constitutes a potential compromise in security. Look, any VPN service be it a free service or a paid subscription service is designed to route your traffic through them, and that's a fact."

Me I'm caught in the middle learning as I go along.

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