Security for 64 bit Vista Laptop

I just picked up a laptop and am finishing the setup phase. I'll be installing Avast Anti-Virus, as I know it supports 64 bit and works reasonably well. Windows Defender is enabled, as is Windows firewall. Now I'd like to address strong security.

This laptop will be used for business (and play as well, I suppose, especially during hurricane evacs). One concern I have are for those times when I must download banking transactions into Quicken and Quickbooks. I'd like to be sure that my passwords and the sensitive data I'll be downloading is not accessible to anyone else. These downloads might take place via a hotel network or via a Sprint (or similar) broadband device.

Although my office is behind a hardware firewall, I really have no experience when it comes to 'on the road security'. Is it feasible to bring a router with a firewall to place between my laptop and the hotel network, or should it all be handled by software (as I assume the case will be for the Sprint broadband).

I know that I am asking for more information than is probably practically posted here, but any information (including links) is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
James

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