Summer is a time to be out and about so even if you don’t have a wireless network at home, it’s well worth getting a wireless adaptor for your laptop. In fact most modern models come with wireless capabilities built in. This enables you to connect to the internet wherever an open wireless network is available. Commercial services providing wireless internet access at airports, stations or cafes, are known as hot spots.
Many cafes and pubs offer hotspots, enabling you to sip a drink while using your notebook. The principle is simple. Any computer within range can connect to the network if it’s suitably equipped. Only those that provide valid authentication details can access the internet via the hotspot though. When you launch a browser window on a connected computer, you’re invited to log in or provide payment details.
The connection is unencrypted, which means that anyone could access data that your computer is sending or receiving, which is much the same as the security on a domestic internet connection. Using a hotspot without an adequate software firewall running on your laptop could mean that someone else within range may be able to access shared files. It’s also worth checking that your firewall settings don’t provide access to the local network. You may have set this up at home from the safety of a wired or encrypted network sitting behind a firewall, but it’s risky using the same settings for an open access hotspot. Most internet security suites and software firewalls provide a quick way to switch between home and away settings for precisely this reason.
Hotspots are relatively expensive compared to domestic broadband, but you’re paying for the convenience of access. You can either pay for casual access or opt to subscribe. In the case of T Mobile, casual access costs £5.00 for one hour, but the price comes down for a three hour block, which costs £7.50. Payment via SMS text costs 75p for ten minutes, charged to your mobile bill. You can sign up for an unlimited subscription for £23.50 per month. BT Openzone offers similar deals. One hour costs £6, with a day costing £10. A month’s subscription costs £25.
Get internet access in a café
Armed with a laptop and wireless adaptor, you can get online instantly in a hotspot.
1
Find a comfortable place to work and turn on your laptop, connecting your wireless adapter if necessary. Windows should detect the wireless network and tell you with a balloon alert. Click the balloon and select the network if more than one is available.
2
Once connected, launch your web browser. This should open at a welcome page which encourages you to log in or register. Its overall look and branding will depend on the company running the hotspot. Opt to register and provide your payment details and select a username and password. Some hotspots enable you to pay by SMS text, in which case authentication details are texted back.
3
Log in and use the internet as if you were connected at home. You should be able to check email and browse the web without any modifications. There may be an additional floating window displaying the amount of credit that you have left and including a disconnect option.
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