Hi Bizness,

When Norton detects that you are on an unencrypted network, which most public wi-fi spots are, the Network Security Map should automatically configure your network trust level to "Protected."  This setting essentially subjects all traffic from other devices on the local network to the same firewall rules that are applied to traffic from the internet.  "Restricted" completely blocks all communication from all other devices on the local network.  So, while "Protected" will provide the same level of security as you have while browsing the internet, "Restricted" will provide the maximum protection by completely isolating your PC from others on the LAN.  If configuring  the trust level to "Restricted" does not interfere with your ability to access anything that you need on the school's network, go ahead and use that setting for the most security.  Otherwise, "Protected" should allow a bit more access while still filtering all traffic to keep you safe.

Be aware of course, that the network trust level only adjusts the firewall's control of traffic entering your computer from the LAN - it does not hide or encrypt the wireless traffic to and from your PC.  If you are not using a VPN, or connecting using SSL or TLS, your traffic will be broadcast in the clear and can potentially be seen by others nearby.  Your PC will not be hacked, but your communications will not be private.