[SOLVED] How to protect my PC when connected to University Wifi/Ethernet.

[Summer101]

Hi,

I would like to know how I can protect my device from potential threats in connecting to public wifi such as University wifi/ethernet in dorms.

I have read in previous posts that this can be done using a standard-commercial router. So I was hopping to ask if this router will be sufficient in security:

https://www.tp-link.com/se/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-c20i/#overview

I will be buying it second-hand. If anyone have a better suggestion or solution that costs below £20 then please do share

 

[bill001g]

If you have a ethernet port then it is trivial you hook it up as though the university was the internet and everything behind the router is protected via the NAT being stupid.

If you want to hook to the university via wifi it gets much more complex. Almost no router allows you to have the WAN port be wifi. Maybe you can accomplish it with third party firmware but not all routers support it and you must give up one of your radios since it must be dedicated to the wan usage. The simpler but somewhat more costly is to buy a repeater/extender that can run as a client-bridge. You would in effect use it as wifi nic card that connected to the router wan port via ethernet. Pretty much the same setup as the first except you have another device in between that connects to the wifi.

If they have rules against having your own router or wifi be careful. They likely can detect it even if they do not stop it with technology and if they want there are methods to make it very hard, although they can't fully stop you.

 

[geofelt]

Most viruses and malware enter via "social engineering"
That is clicking on pfishing links from unknown sources or by looking at strange sites like porn sites.
Windows defender does a good job of identifying known viruses.
Practicing safe browsing is your best defense.