Airline travelers beware: Poorly secured airport Wi-Fi networks are a gold mine for hackers. According to the findings of a study conducted by AirTight Networks, a manufacturer of wireless intrusion protection hardware and software, and an article published this month by Forbes Magazine, many users of airport Wi-Fi networks are at risk for some type of identity theft. AirTight found that almost all public networks allow some type of personal data such as login names and passwords to pass through the air unencrypted. Even more startling, only 3% of people use something more secure.

So what should you do to protect your computer and sensitive information? The best protection, is, of course, avoiding use of any public Wi-Fi networks. However, this is not always practical for travelers in airports, especially those traveling on business who may find it necessary to use the internet while en route. For those travelers, here are some tips:

• Avoid typing credit card or debit card numbers or other sensitive financial information. Wait until you are able to gain access to a secure network to conduct online banking or shopping, not while on public Wi-Fi.

• Remember that “S” is for security. If you do access a page that requires a login and password, make sure the web site uses “https”, not just “http.” “Https” sites encrypt or convert information into code to protect your information.

• Disable the wireless connection while you are not using it by removing the Wi-Fi card or right-clicking the connection (on a PC) and selecting “Disable.”

• Use a personal firewall. It helps block someone on the internet or on a public network from accessing your computer without your permission.