Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa

Wifi | Is my laptop secure on the WiFi network?

In order to stay safe on a public wireless network the APNK recommends that you follow standard computer security guidelines including

• Have up-to-date anti-virus software running
• Have up-to-date security patches for the operating system and other programs installed
• Check websites requiring passwords/credit card/personal information use HTTPS
• Configure your email to use SSL

The APNK also ensures that Wireless Client Security Separation is enabled at all our free wifi hotspots – this means that associated wireless clients are not able to communicate directly with each other's devices.
 

Use HTTPS

If you are accessing a page that requires a login and password, or if you are entering ANY personal data (credit card, etc) make sure that you are on a secure site. Check that the web address begins with HTTPS instead of the usual HTTP -- and your information will be safely encrypted before transmission.

Use a Webmail system with HTTPS for the whole session.  Almost all Webmail systems use HTTPS when you log in, so your password is transmitted securely. After logging in  they usually switch back to HTTP.  Did you know?  Gmail stays connected using HTTPS the whole time.  

Your company's Webmail system is also likely protected by HTTPS at all times.

Secure your email (SSL)

IF you use a program (such as Outlook or Thunderbird) to send and receive email consider configuring it to use SSL.  Please note that a) your email provider needs to support this and b) the APNK supports SSL on these ports only ...

Incoming Mail
Secure POP on port 995
Secure IMAP on port 993

Outgoing Mail
SMTP on port 587  - see our FAQ

Who is your email provider? 

It is NOT the APNK. EG if your email address is:    

marama@snap.net.nz   your email provider is Snap
rangi@live.com              your email provider is Windows Live Hotmail

Contact your email provider or check their website to find out their incoming and outgoing mail server settings.

Examples of popular mail server SSL settings
Windows Live Hotmail
Incoming    pop3.live.com         port 995
Outgoing    smtp.live.com         port 587

Google Gmail
Incoming    pop.gmail.com    port 995
Outgoing    smtp.gmail.com  port 587

See also -

• Wifi Troubleshooting checklists
• What is wifi?
• How to connect to wifi
  - see also "How do I know if a laptop is wireless enabled?"
• Wifi Connected - but still got problems
• Why does my wifi keep disconnecting?
• What you can and can't do on the APNK wifi (restrictions)
• Wifi SMTP is blocked - how to set up SMTP on port 587 to send emails
• Wifi VPNing is blocked
• Printing on wifi - how-to instructions
• Can I use my Playstation Portable?
• Is APNK wifi free? YES
• Which APNK Libraries have wifi?
• Wikipedia's wifi page