Four essential tips for business travellers using Wi-Fi

The rise of WLANs based on 802.11b - also known as Wi-Fi - is indisputable in offices and homes. Its use in public 'hotspots', often based around coffee shops, airport lounges, hotels and other locations, is likely to increase, especially as providers such as Swisscom-Eurospot target the business traveller. But this latter category has security experts slightly more concerned.

silicon.com recently published some general Wi-Fi security tips but Fujitsu Services has published some guidelines for workers using hotspots while on the road.

Infections The first tip is an obvious one - keep anti-virus software on laptops and even PDAs (though there are as yet few PDA viruses) up to date. This warning isn't just about protecting mobile devices - some malware will sit on a laptop and then move onto a corporate network at a later stage. IT departments must see such AV protection as an important part of their remit.

Make sure you're checked When using bona fide public WLANs a user account and log-in information are required. Andy Baines, principal security consultant at Fujitsu Services, advises end users to beware providers or signals that don't require such checks. "Be alert, and if this information is not requested then disconnect immediately as the connection may have been tampered with."

A little bit of (additional) insurance... IT departments should extend virtual private network (VPN) protection to mobile devices, with even most PDAs now able to handle the extra overhead, with powerful processors and memory. VPNs should also not be seen as a silver bullet but used with other security measures.

Back up Fujitsu Services acknowledge theft and loss of laptops is all too common. We hear the stories about government officials and forgetfulness in the back of taxis every month. The advice here is simple - get your company to invest in an automatic back-up system. This is straightforward for many PDA users who hot-sync with their desktops but so far there are few formal procedures for laptop users.

If you have any better mobile or Wi-Fi safety tips or comments on this advice, then let us know by emailing editorial@silicon.com.