By Graham K. Rogers

With recent reports concerning the way the USA may have extended its surveillance to users worldwide, and the added awareness that the NSA and agencies within the USA and in other countries may also be keeping tracks on computers, it is useful for users to be able to enhance their security when out and about.

Many with laptops will want to connect to publicly available WiFi systems, but there are always risks with this. Loredana Botezatu in an item carried by Help Net Security, points out a number of common ways in which users are at risk when using such links. The article also provides eight specific ways in which users may protect themselves, including "Access only encrypted websites while on public hotspots"; and "Your firewall must be on at all times."

See Keep your laptop safe while using Wi-Fi hotspots on Help Net Security.

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand where he is also Assistant Dean. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs.