Is Public Wi-Fi Access Safe?

Surfing Safely in Starbucks...

A few months ago I met with a group of Internet professionals, all of us sporting laptops with wireless connections to the hotel's access point. On the second day of the conference, one of the attendees put up a slide on the overhead showing logins and passwords from a dozen of the attendees. Needless to say, many jaws dropped open.

He was running a "sniffer" program that anyone can download to spy on the internet traffic floating around in the air. Fortunately, he was a trusted colleague, and was nice enough to tell us that we were caught with our virtual pants down.

Wifi Safety Tips

First, be aware that (almost) ANYTHING that you type or any info that appears on your screen while you're using a wireless connection can be seen by others nearby. If you are accessing a page that requires a login and password, or if you are entering ANY personal data (credit card, SSN, etc) make sure that you are on a secure site. That's easy enough -- just check that the web address begins with https instead of the usual http -- and your information will be safely encrypted before transmission. As long as you're on a page with an address that begins with https, the data you send and receive is protected from sniffers and snoopers.

But be on your guard, some web-based email providers have a secure login page, but after you're logged in the access reverts to normal non-encrypted mode. So any email you send or receive while on a wireless connection is out in the clear. Google's GMail and Yahoo Mail are examples of webmail services that work this way. Until recently Hotmail didn't even offer a secure login option. So look for the link or checkbox for the secure login when accessing your web-based email. If your service doesn't offer one, consider switching or decide to live with the security exposure.

Oh, and there are the "shoulder surfers" to watch out for. Just like when you're entering your PIN code at an ATM, you need to keep an eye open for anyone who might be glancing over your shoulder while you hunt and peck in the airport or coffeeshop. I always use two fingers when entering my pin or password... one presses the correct key and other is a decoy. So even if someone was watching from across the street with binoculars, it's almost impossible to steal a password.

And beware of the Evil Twins! The Internet Patrol warns of a scam where a hacker may put up a bogus copy of the wi-fi hotspot's login page. Learn how to stay safe from this attack by reading this helpful article: http://www.aunty-spam.com/wifi-hotspot-evil-twins-mimic-wi-fi-hotspots-and-steal-your-data

Securing Your Wireless HOME Network

Do you have a wireless laptop and router at home? You may be providing free internet access to your neighbors, or opening your system to drive-by hackers. Don't miss my article on securing your wireless home network, here: http://www.askbobrankin.com/wireless_security.html

BOB RANKIN... is a tech writer and computer programmer who enjoys exploring the Internet and sharing the fruit of his experience with others. His work has appeared in ComputerWorld, NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is publisher of the Internet TOURBUS newsletter, author of several computer books, and creator of the http://LowfatLinux.com website. Visit Bob Rankin's website for more helpful articles and free tech support.

Cheap Boat Insurance

One of the absolute pleasures that an individual can attain is by possessing his own boat. Cheap boat insurance reflects that the cost of boat insurance is relatively low, but at the same time it grants substantial damage coverage against any mishaps which might damage the boat.

This coverage is extensive, and offers coverage for the boat, its equipment and supplementary gear, outboard motors, boat trailer and individual assets. A cheap boat insurance policy offers physical destruction coverage on an actual cash value or an agreed amount value foundation. Together, boat insurance policies tender vital coverage for the boat, but there are major disparities.

Actual cash value policies finance replacement costs, minus depreciation at the point of the loss. In the event of total damage, second-hand boat pricing directions and additional funds are used to decide the estimated market rate of the boat. Partial damage costs are calculated by getting the entire charges of the restoration, minus the deductible.

Agreed amount value policies mean that the owner of the boat and the insurance company have decided on the cost of the boat, and in the aftermath of a total loss the owner will be compensated with that amount.

Agreed amount value policies also replace old objects with new ones, exclusive of any assumption for depreciation. The majority of agreed amount value policies necessitate actual cash value on specific destroyed assets like sails, protective covers, batteries, dinghies, trailers and aged outboard motors, lower drive units or outdrives.

Cheap boat insurance is an affordable way to shield an asset that might have cost a person his lifes saving.

Boat Insurance provides detailed information on Boat Insurance, Cheap Boat Insurance, Motor Boat Insurance, Boat Insurance Online and more. Boat Insurance is affiliated with Trip Cancellation Insurance.

Austin Texas DWI Lawyer - How To Handle Your Violation

While you should never drive while intoxicated, in Austin or anywhere else, it also helps to know the rules. What exactly constitutes a Austin DWI violation? That is what we will discuss here. The Austin DWI laws are quite strict and as long as you know what they are, you can avoid a lot of serious problems.

An Austin DWI offense is regulated by the blood alcohol content. When a police officer stops you for suspicious driving, he is permitted to do a blood alcohol test on the driver of the car. This may be either a breath test or a blood test, but it is completely legal under Austin DWI law for the official to request it. If your blood alcohol concentration is over .08, the legal limit, you can be arrested. If you refuse to take the test, you will be assumed guilty, so it is worth doing the breath analysis in case you are actually below the limit.

While the blood alcohol content test is a legal Austin DWI method of testing potentially drunk drivers, police officers usually begin by administering a sobriety test. These are pretty standard all over the country, where you will be asked to touch your nose with alternating fingers, walk in a straight line and stand on one foot. Should you fail this, you will be given the blood alcohol test. If you fail the test, you will be arrested under Austin DWI law and taken in to the police station.

Austin DWI laws are quite specific and you should be very careful to avoid breaking them since you can be held in jail until your court date. Simply appointing a designated driver will solve all these problems on a good night out.

Learn more about finding the best help for your Austin Texas DWI Lawyer. Save time and money. Get your problem solved! Just visit: Austin DWI.

A Guide To Dad Birthday Gift Ideas

Your dad counts as one of the most important people in the whole world as far as you are concerned, right? That is why you make so much fuss about pondering on the perfect dad birthday gift ideas that you could possibly include as part of your option. Do not fret because dad birthday gift ideas are in a wide array of choices!

There are actually innumerable choices that you could go for. If your dad has a favorite sport, get something that relates to his kind of sports such as a bowling or golf bag, a tennis racket, and the likes. It could be golf tees, golf balls, baseball, jerseys, and many more.

You may as well get him posters with his name inscribed on them. Another good idea is a personalized yet genuine quality business card for your dad. You may have a reputable printing company to do it through the use of the high quality business card software. You could pair it with some business card holder too.

Other choices include the followings:

1. Gift basket. One thoughtful birthday gift would be to fill a basket with delicious goodies which your dad would surely love.

2. Poems. Write a poem to your dad. You may not be a born poet yet it feels touching on his part to know your thoughts about him.

3. Getaway tickets. Your dad may surely want to go to a specific place. Why not buy his tickets and give him a good treat?

4. Sports set. Buy him the accessories he misses as he goes on with his favorite sports.

5. Movie treat. Take videos of your family members talking about how much you all appreciate your dad. This would be one real touching gift idea.

6. Photo albums. Make a scrapbook of your dad's oldest and latest photos. Guide him in his quest of commemorating the pieces in his life.

Above all, presenting him with personalized dad birthday gift ideas is a lovely thing to think of. Not only would you show your utmost effort in handing him a gift for his special day but also the thought that you incorporate in it would be manifested.

Find your choice of dad birthday gift ideas now and be a wise shopper. Let his day become special and memorable as ever.

To learn more birthday gift ideas, visit http://www.birthdaygiftideas101.com