Securing laptop data

I was reading about wireless networks and found this: http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/connections/page5998.cfm

It describes how unsecure one's data may be if they connect to a public hotspot such as a hotel or coffee shop. So can other people or the server owner of the hotspot see the data you are seeing on your laptop or see into your private files? Is there any free software besides firewall/AV to protect against this?

 

It's possiable to capture and view any data moving across a network. So it's never a good idea to visit sites that require you to enter user/passwords. Fire walls prevent users from accessing your files on your pc. Unless you have a shared folder allow all users. If you create a ssl link all data traffic will be encrypted. They will be required have the security key to view.

Use common since, Don't do your banking at a free hotspot. You could create a VPN link to your own network and access the network through your own network. It will be slow.

 

I feel like I can't trust these hotspots regardless if they're free or not. I normally use my blackberry as a modem to log on. Of course I don't do anything sensitive like banking and such unless I'm at home. I know its not 100% hack proof, nothing is. But I feel much more secure using my BB as a modem to go online.