How can I secure my data while I am using unsecure wifi?

[ez2flip]

I am travelling a lot. so I have to check my financial websites often on unsecured wifi network. I haven't realized security issues.
is there any way I can protect my data? I read about VPN a bit.
if there is some services that secure it, I am willing to pay for it.

please enlighten me with your knowledge.

thanks in advance.

 

[ScottMac]

If your financial site uses SSL ("HTTPS://" - shows a little lock icon in the corner) then the data should be encrypted.

If you are NOT on an SSL/HTTPS: active link, then don't log in ... all your data is probably in the clear.

A VPN probably wouldn't work for you because the other end has to be specifically configured for your access. So, unless you VPN to a home box (or some other friendly location) and jump from there, your data will be "in the open" on an unsecured wireless connection.

 

[stlcardinals]

You could use a service like logmein

It runs over https so you will have a secure connection back to a computer at home.

 

[chuck2002]

If you are using a financial web site that doesn't use SSL, you probably should reconsider this institution.
If you were to setup a free logmein session to your home computer, you would also protect other sites you visit and login to from prying wireless sniffers, such as facebook, dating web sites, Anandtechforums, webmail, etc.

 

[Emulex]

dd-wrt supports vpn. setup dyn-dns on the router, setup vpn (buffalo airstations come with dd-wrt standard. like the wzr-hp300gn) - use pptp - its simple to setup.

router 192.168.1.1
pptp server 192.168.1.2
pptp range 192.168.1.3-10 (7 in case you have alot of devices)
dyn-dns to get whatever.hopto.org or however you want to find you way home.

now you cannot get highjacked and the cost of some latency. unsecured wifi is easy to highjack and man in the middle. no sweat with a vpn. you don't have $20-62 for a vpn capable router? you can pay folks $9+ a month for this feature.

 

[owensdj]

You could connect to a paid VPN service and use that for whatever access you need.

There are also some free VPN services such as ProXPN, but I don't know how fast they are.