Safe internet surfing using public wireless networks

[cool11]

I connect to wireless networks(internet) sometimes, everywhere I go with my mbp.

I am also concerned about security. I am talking about the possibility, somebody steal my codes-passwords etc. I am worried about packer sniffers-analyzers etc.

So I would like to:

1.
surf anonymously and have my codes secured. Sites with https are ok. But many of the other sites I use do not use https protocol. For example my hosting server do not use https. So am I vulnerable?
I heard about ssh tunelling but it is not a simple and straightforward task for me to do it everytime I travel.
I use this one:
http://anon.inf.tu-dresden.de/mac/download_en.html
(jap) that really hides my ip.
I also heard of tor:
http://www.torproject.org/docs/tor-doc-osx.html.en

But still I wonder if somebody can steal my username/password.
Can somebody tell me please?



- be sure I would not get any attack, stealing my files etc.
I use littlesnitch firewall application, am I protected?


I know that safe computer is the unluged computer but I have to use internet, everywhere I go.
I just wanna do it the safe way.

Will you advice me about the above questions and other related things?

 

[operator207]

I connect to wireless networks(internet) sometimes, everywhere I go with my mbp.

I am also concerned about security. I am talking about the possibility, somebody steal my codes-passwords etc. I am worried about packer sniffers-analyzers etc.

So I would like to:

1.
surf anonymously and have my codes secured. Sites with https are ok. But many of the other sites I use do not use https protocol. For example my hosting server do not use https. So am I vulnerable?
I heard about ssh tunelling but it is not a simple and straightforward task for me to do it everytime I travel.
I use this one:
http://anon.inf.tu-dresden.de/mac/download_en.html
(jap) that really hides my ip.
I also heard of tor:
http://www.torproject.org/docs/tor-doc-osx.html.en

But still I wonder if somebody can steal my username/password.
Can somebody tell me please?



- be sure I would not get any attack, stealing my files etc.
I use littlesnitch firewall application, am I protected?


I know that safe computer is the unluged computer but I have to use internet, everywhere I go.
I just wanna do it the safe way.

Will you advice me about the above questions and other related things?

Your only as secure as the people you proxy through. If your not using https, your sending it in the clear, therefore if someone is listening, they will see your UN and PW.

As for SSH Tunneling, its not that hard. If you have a shell account somewhere that you trust, you can do this:

ssh -D 8080 -f -C -q -N username@serveryouhave.sshaccess.to

Then set your browser to use a socks5 server at 127.0.0.1 port 8080
Then kill the ssh conection via the kill command when your done.
You can try this, as it should work:

ps auxww | awk '$0~/8080/&&$0!~/awk/{print $2}' |xargs kill

I use this setup from work. The firewall is really restrictive (I can goto amazon.com, but none of the pictures will show up).
I just have Firefox setup to use the socks server, when I am at home, I use Safari.

 

[cool11]

Except ssh, is there any other solution?

Look at this:

http://www.macosxhints.com/images/tmobilehotspot.jpg

and this too:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20070813194333218

Those ttls protocols help us or not?

 

[taxbox]

Maybe you should check out this:
http://hotspotshield.com/

Could be what you're looking for.

 

[cool11]

Maybe you should check out this:
http://hotspotshield.com/

Could be what you're looking for.

This seems to be promising. I do not know if it is better go unencrypted or go encrypted through their servers(leave other possible hackers out, but do we trust the guys of 'hotspotshield'?). I would like to use it, maybe is efficient and really give me protection.

Anybody heard of this one:
http://hamachix.spaceants.net/

 

[cool11]

Tell me something.

I use to have always open firefox with the tabs I use.
These tabs contain sites that require authentication but I 've already give my codes once.
Then I put mac to sleep mode.
Then I 'wake up' mbp when I open the screen.
Firefox and all these authenticated sessions are there.

I mean I do not give my passwords every time I use a site that recognize me as a registered user. It is about authenticated sessions that firefox has kept in its preferences.

Am I safer this way?

 

[cool11]

Should I set up a vpn?
I own a desktop pc and I have it only for downloading from internet.
It is always connected.

If you search this page for vpn
http://www.pure-mac.com/remote.html
you get a lot of results.

Is a vpn a solution to my security needs, when surfing to public wifi?

I use microsoft remote desktop on mac to control the pc, inside my home lan. Does this help when I am on the road wanting secure internet access?

About vpn, could I setup my pc-downloading machine(always on, always connected) to use it as a vpn server?
Do I need a package that should be installed in windows pc(vpn server) and an application(client) for mac?
What should I install on pc? What should I install on mac? Any good and reliable windows-mac software for this task?

Could you help me?

 

[cool11]

Should I post elsewhere for vpn help?