If you can use your company's "virtual private network," or VPN, you can feel fairly safe when using open Wi-Fi at a cafe. VPNs create secure "tunnels," in which all online communication is encrypted at both ends. But simply using a top security suite from Symantec, McAfee, Trend Micro or others won't protect you in a cafe situation. For the modern nomadic worker, few things are more enjoyable than heading to a cafe, ordering a cappuccino and firing up the laptop to get some work done. As far as anyone you're e-mailing knows, you're at the office. Unfortunately, few things expose your work to greater security risks than latching onto a public Wi-Fi service. Most people don't realize the risks, and even fewer have the ability to perform the geeky tasks that would fix it. Computer criminals can "sniff" the traffic in a cafe, or set up a fake hot spot that you might innocently log into. When that happens, watch out: Everything you type go...
Wireless Data and Voice Communications Security Solutions