Security w/Standard Avast while traveling

General Topics
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Much info here is over my head because my tech knowledge is not vast, so thanks for you help in simple responses. It’s NEVER too early or too late to LEARN.

If you have Avast standard free services is your PC secure when you are traveling and hotel offers free wifi? Would you check your personal accounts such as bank, or credit cards? Would this be safe?

What recommendations do you have?

Thanks…
A OLD NEWBIE willing to learn

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avast! would protect your computer from any malicious programs or attempts to harm your computer. But it should also be noted that antivirus programs can only protect you online from what’s trying to get inside or outside your computer—all as per your consent. That means anything else that’s already outside your computer (i.e. data sent such as usernames and passwords) would be beyond the scope of security. As it is the case, it is generally suggested to refrain using public wi-fi connections for such transactions as they can be intercepted. Connection through cellular data plan is generally more preferred.

Some good reads:
5 tips to stay safe on public Wi-Fi
Is It Safe To Bank On Public Wi-Fi? How Not To Get Hacked!

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If you have Avast standard free services is your PC secure when you are traveling and hotel offers free wifi?
sett Your firewall to Public....
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I suspect by avast standard the OP means avast free, so no firewall other than what they have installed.

@ bioro
Free wifi, isn’t secure and it is possible that others could snoop on the communication between your system and what is a public wifi. So the links given by .: L’ arc :. are very useful to at least make you aware of the potential dangers.

A word about HTTPS Everywhere mentioned in one first of the articles given by .: L’ arc :., is that it forces https even on normal http pages. This means that the web shield isn’t going to be monitoring that activity, you could be less well protected from infection, something to consider.

Other links worth a look:
http://blog.avast.com/2013/07/19/traveling-computer-security-tips/
http://blog.avast.com/2013/07/08/security-tips-from-avast-forum-evangelists/

Stay safe.