Is it Safe to use Free WiFi?
Free WiFi or hotspots are public places where Internet connectivity is available to anyone within broadcasting range. Cafes, libraries, school campuses and civic centers are just a few places where you might find free WiFi. Generally it’s safe to use hotspots with a few common sense rules. Free WiFi networks are often unencrypted, as encryption would require logon credentials for each person joining the network, hampering accessibility. Networks that don’t require credentials are easy for anyone to jump onto with little or no user direction. A wireless router broadcasts all dialogs taking place between itself and connected computers. If ten patrons of a café are using their computers to cruise the Internet, check email or download music, ten conversations are being broadcast throughout the café and immediate area. Others within range can use widely available tools to eavesdrop on those dialogs, trapping and analyzing data packets. This is a good way for nearby malicious persons to gain
