Thread: Banking on hotspots

I often use my notebook computer in public hotspots for internet access. Is it safe to use internet banking or shopping if the address begins with https?

In theory this should be a safe way to access the internet, even from a public hotspot. We asked the security company, Symantec, and it confirmed that as long as the connection is made with a secure link (ie one that begins with https), it's very unlikely that the computer could be attacked.

This is because all the communication between the computer and the website is scrambled (also referred to as encrypted), so that even if it was intercepted it would be meaningless. You could use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). This is generally only available to business users, but there are some companies that offer this service to ordinary consumers.

One example is Steganos Internet Anonym VPN. This is not a cheap solution. Access for one month or there is an option to buy a year's subscription. There is a transfer limit of 25GB, but this is more than enough for most people.Don't forget to use up-to-date anti-virus, firewall and anti spyware software on the computer, regardless of the trustworthiness of the internet connection.