Easy VPNs Secure Wi-Fi at Home and on the Road

MILLIONS OF PC users today are living dangerously-and I'm not talking about using their laptops in the tub. The risky behavior I have in mind involves using an unsecured Wi-Fi network.

Lots of people forgo security because they think it's too complicated or they fear performance problems. But now you can get the strong security that enterprises use, without encountering a lot of hassles. Using an unsecured network at home or at a public hotspot is unquestionably dangerous: It's not hard for someone to grab your passwords or other data under those circumstances.

Many business travelers and remote workers use a virtual private network to connect to their offices. A VPN shields the con tents of any Wi-Fi connection by encrypting the communication and routing it through a trusted network. Traditionally, setting up a VPN server on a home PC has been about as easy for most people as building a nuclear reactor in the basement. But new VPN tools now make this robust technology available to the masses.

If you frequently use public hotspots, VPN service from Mega Proxy (www.megaproxy.com) is a good security choice. It costs $10 for three months (a free version with restrictions is also available). MegaProxy's one weakness is that it protects only your Web browsing traffic and not other forms of communication, such as instant messages or P0P3 e-mail exchanges.

Home users can transform certain models of routers into power house VPN servers by upgrading the router's firmware. Sveasoft's Alchemy software (find.pcworld.com/46582), for example, replaces the original firmware in several models of Linksys home or small office Wi-Fi routers. The company charges $20 for a year.

Updating firmware is always slightly risky, because a botched up grade can turn your gateway into a doorstop; and installing Sveasoft's firmware will void the warranty on your gateway. But Alchemy can turn a plain-vanilla Linksys WRT-54G gateway, for example, into a truly robust security device.

Whatever else you do, take steps to secure your network. Save your risky behavior for something more fun, like skydiving.