PCMag has published four tips to surfing safely while connected to an open wifi network, like at Starbucks.

1 Suite Up
Make sure you’re covered on the three main fronts: a two-way firewall, an antispyware tool, and an antivirus program. Many solutions combine these into a full Internet “security suite.” Check the security software reviews for tips on which programs perform the best.

2 Stay Up To Date
Install all the latest Microsoft Windows XP updates. Whenever I offer to help someone with a computer problem, I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen the yellow Windows Update icon in the taskbar, meaning that they haven’t run it in a while. Be sure to update your OS frequently; also check your security software (antispyware, antivirus, and the rest) to see if it’s automatically updating its definition files.

3 Don’t Share
Turn off Windows XP file and print sharing. This one is a little inconvenient, but it’s worth the trouble, because it essentially closes down access to your hard drive from foreign machines. Go to the Control Panel’s Security Center applet, then select Windows Firewall. Go to the Exceptions tab and uncheck File and Print Sharing. Also, be sure to disable ad hoc connections (found under Advanced Settings) in the Windows Wireless Connection panel (or whichever Wi-Fi utility you use).

4 Eyeball Sites
Before entering any personal info on a site, check to be sure it’s secure. Look for https:// in the address bar, along with an icon indicating that VeriSign or another independent party has certified the site as secure. We don’t recommend online purchases or doing banking from nonsecure sites anyway, but it’s doubly important to be secure when you’re out in public.

I couldn’t disagree with #1 more. Repeat after me, every “security suites” is bloated garbage. Symantec’s Norton and McAfee for example slow down most systems so much, some people prefer the spyware. NOD32 is the best anti-virus. As far as avoiding spyware it really comes down to keeping your system up to date and not using a web browser with scripting enabled on non-trustworthy sites. For a firewall, you don’t need anything more than the Windows Firewall.

[Four Ways to Surf Safely at Starbucks via Lifehacker]

[tags]wifi, open wifi, wireless, network, wireless security, VPN, security, secure[/tags]