Using Laptop in Hospital Question

15 years ago

My sister is in the hospital. She has her laptop up there with her...but is a bit paranoid about using the hospitals wifi. She has all her CC information,etc. on her computer.

Anything she should know or do before she goes online??

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Comments (8)

heather_on
15 years ago
I would be hesitant about using it with a public wifi too. Just saying.......
roseluver
15 years ago
I used mine the last 2 times I was in the hospital with no problems.
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ravencajun Zone 8b TX
15 years ago
it is taking a big risk, the one safe way she could use it would be by using a linux live cd in the cd drive and boot the laptop from that, then she would be accessing the net via the linux cd and not her hard drive so her hard drive and all info on it would be untouched. There is no need to install anything simply one of the free versions of linux that has the live cd would work, just choose to boot from the cd and she is good to go, she would be using the firefox browser that is on the live cd.

Very much like sandboxing.

the linux live cd can be downloaded as an iso and burned as such to CD or DVD and used so it is free.
Another quick way to get one of the cd's is any magazine store that sells linux magazines will usually have a free cd included in them and most of the time it is one of the live cd versions of linux like ubuntu or mint etc, there are many distros.

I always have a linux live cd with me when I travel, many banks are now recommending this method for transactions online to banking sites
wildchild
15 years ago
As long as her personal info is password protected under a different password than her one for her computer or social sites she will be fine.

Sites like credit cards and banking are encrypted and secure when you are not logged in.

Just have her stay on social sites and general email and she will be fine.

Never use the same password everywhere.
Cherryfizz
15 years ago
When I would stay the night with my sister at the hospital I used their Wifi. I picked up a password and username in reception. I don't do banking on line or have any real personal info on my computer though.

Anne
cynic
15 years ago
The concerns expressed so far are about uing the wifi. My first concern would be theft. If the computer is stolen by anyone with even mediocre knowledge could have access to a lot of info.
Lindsey_CA
15 years ago
She should have a good firewall installed on her laptop!
heather_on
15 years ago
Cynic brings up a very good point. Computers, especially laptops have a way of "magically" disappearing from hospitals. Leave the room to go for a walk, go for a test, go to sleep and anyone can come in and "lift" it. Hospitals are not responsible for personal belongings. Unless a visitor brings it in and takes it back home when they leave you do take your chances.

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Using Laptop in Hospital Question

Comments (8)

heather_on

roseluver

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ravencajun Zone 8b TX

wildchild

Cherryfizz

cynic

Lindsey_CA

heather_on

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