> Install a personal firewall
> Consider using a VPN
> Turn off automatic log-in
> Secure personal details
> Turn off file and print sharing
> Change the default Service Set Identifier (SSID)
> Change the default password needed to access a wireless device
> Keep your browser up to date
> Check digital certificates are valid

It's your responsibility to safeguard your data whilst accessing the Internet. Please:

• take care if you share files
• be aware of automated log-in programs
• install a firewall and use a virtual private network (VPN) to access your company intranet

Firewalls can help prevent unwanted users from accessing your device when you use wireless access to the Internet. Some more sophisticated products will even alert you when an attempt is being made. By installing a personal firewall it reduces the ability of attackers to gain access to resources on your computer by allowing only traffic which is authorised by the intended user. Some operating systems include a personal firewall as standard, but it is important to check that the firewall is enabled. Free trial firewalls can be downloaded from the Internet before you decide to purchase a full security firewall.

Although virtual private networks are generally used by company networks to provide strong authentication and encryption for hotspot communications (as well as GPRS, dial up and broadband), there are also inexpensive consumer VPN services that give you many of the protection measures that a corporate VPN would offer.

Ensure your wireless device cannot automatically log in because you have configured it to remember passwords. This should be turned off (often an Internet Explorer browser setting).

Only input bank and other personal details when SSL or HTTPS sessions are in progress (look for the padlock icon in your browser and click on it to confirm that the security certificate is valid).

This will help prevent anyone from accessing your hard drive and looking at your files. To do this using Windows XP, go to your Control Panel, click on Network and Dial-Up Connections, find your wireless card, click on the Properties button, and uncheck the File and Print Sharing box to turn it off.

Your wireless devices may have a default SSID set by the factory. The SSID is the name of your wireless network, and it can be anything you wish. Hackers know these defaults and can try them to join your network.

Change the network's SSID to something unique, and make sure it doesn't refer to the networking products you use.

For wireless products such as access points and routers, you will be asked for a password when you want to change their settings. These devices have a default password set by the factory. Hackers know these defaults and will try them to access your wireless device and change your network settings. To thwart any unauthorized changes, customise the device's password so it will be hard to guess.

We recommend that you apply all patches and new versions of your browser software by regularly checking the browser vendor's home page for updates.

If your browser software allows you to do so, please ensure that you select the option to display any out of date digital certificates that may be presented by the web sites you are browsing. This allows you to be confident that the web site is actually managed by the organisation or company that it claims to represent.

If you still need some help, call us on 0843 453 3535