The Increase of Public WiFI Connectivity

Laptop man

Image by Ed Yourdon via Flickr

Most homes contain more than one internet ready device. Whether you have two desktops, a web tablet, and an android phone, you can stay connected.  Even when you take your mobile device with you, there are many places that will allow you to connect to the internet while out and about. Let’s take a look at the connectivity of public WiFi.

You’ve probably seen the sign at your favorite coffee-house. Free WiFi. In fact, every company-owned Starbucks location is guaranteed to have unlimited WiFi for customer use. Finding a connected café is becoming more common as customers become more mobile. By looking for a WiFi symbol or hopping online, you can find out which locations near you are wired and ready to go.

Java junkies aren’t the only ones who can reap the benefits of free internet. Many cities are implementing WiFi hotspots at public parks as well. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation are engaged in a five-year project, to bring free WiFi to 26 public parks. State Parks across California, in conjunction with AT & T, are providing wireless internet to cabins, RV parks, picnic tables and camping grounds to park visitors. Current California parks with free WiFi include, Half Moon Bay State Beach, Monterey State Historic Park, and Old Town San Diego SHP.

Municipal wireless networks, or a citywide Wireless Access Zone (WAZ), places the internet in the hands of the community. Cities like Denver, Honolulu and Spokane are making the internet available to anyone who would log on.

Making Your Wireless Connection Secure

If your wireless network seems to be running a bit slow, there may be a reason.  Millions of consumers who pay for wireless internet are also paying for other people to connect to the internet.  If your wireless internet is not secure,  other people may be tapping into your wireless connection via their laptops, desktops, iPods, etc.  How do you secure your wireless network?

Making your wireless network secure is relatively easy.  You need to access the routers control panel.   The router should provide you with a user name and then you select a password.  This means any time someone wants to access your wireless network they need the password to access it.  If someone brings their laptop to your house, they will need the network password to get on the internet.   Some may also require an encryption password as well.

This insures that your wireless network is secure from people trying to connect for free but also keeps your information secure.  Hackers can hack into a computer easier that is on an unsecured wireless network than a computer that is on a wireless secured connection.

It is important to use a password that is original and not easy to guess and not to forget your password.  If you forget it, it’s very costly to get a computer guru to retrieve it and sometimes impossible.

Be sure your information and connection is secure!