a question about network security
 

currently I'm not accessing my bank from 'open' motel wifi networks... my thinking is an open network can sniffed for user/pass... am I correct in this OR does the 'bank site' encrypt the communication with my laptop, hiding this info? will a verizon usb phone connection be safe to access the bank site. thanks in advance. -bmb

The bank encryption is not good enough. You should use encrypted tunneled VPN (and not one of those free ones).

am I able to set the up on an open network from a motel?

Yes, VPN will add an extra encrypted layer, so no one can see what kind of traffic you send and recieve. It works same way as tunneling through any other ISP server.
Anyone who log on remotely to their work/bank, through unsecure wifi, should use it.

k, gonna use logmein