qq To make it easier for business travelers to keep their data safe while they are on the road, the stsn.com web site has a handy locator to help you find a suitable hotel. The site also gives some security suggestions for laptops that are being used on the road. These include:

* Disable file-sharing to prevent strangers accessing your hard drive.

* Disable the peer-to-peer and ad-hoc capabilities of the Wi-Fi system.

* Install and use a personal firewall.

* Make sure the anti-virus software on your laptop is active and up-to-date.

* Use either a VPN for email or, if you are using POP email, use SSH, or use SSL-protected web mail.

Here are some additional tips from Stephen and Chey:

* Regularly scan your laptop for adware and spyware.

* Install available security patches for your operating system and applications.

* Don't connect to wireless networks that don't ask you to log on (unless you are sure you know who is running the network).

* Don't pay for wireless network connectivity with a credit card unless you are sure you know who is running the network, and make sure that the transaction page is SSL encrypted.

Two laptop firewalls to try are Zone Alarm and Sygate Personal Firewall, both of which are free (for personal use) in their basic versions. There is also a free firewall included in Windows XP called Internet Connection Firewall of ICF. You can turn ICF on and off via the Advanced tab in the Properties setting of whatever network connection you are using (the next major update to Windows XP is rumored to turn ICF on by default but if you use your laptop to VPN to your company’s network, you may want to ask support before you use ICF, or any other firewall, in case it interferes with the VPN).

To test your laptop before you travel use either of these web sites: scan.sygatetech.com or www.grc.com (click on "Shields Up"). Both sites will tell you how exposed your system might be.