Hotspots—what, where, and how can you connect to them while protecting your privacy and security?1
If you’ve ever tried answering email or browsing the Internet from your mobile device in a public place, or even at work or at home, chances are you’ve connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot. This connection is not only very easy, but you also don’t need to use smartphone data. Unsurprisingly, hotspots are becoming an important part of our public infrastructure, as well as our Internet experience.
Millions of people every day connect to public hotspots for their data needs. According to various estimates, there are nearly 200 million hotspots worldwide, and there will be one for every 20 people on earth by 2018. Thanks to our modern, always-on digital lifestyle, people expect to be constantly connected, and for public Wi-Fi access points to be extended to a global hotspot network to meet those needs.
Terminology
Before we dive into how to connect to a hotspot and related security issues, we’ll define what we mean. While some people use the terms “hotspot” and “mobile hotspot” interchangeably, the two actually mean different things.
- Hotspot: A hotspot is a physical location where people can access the Internet, usually using Wi-Fi, via a wireless local area network (WLAN) with a router connected to an Internet service provider (ISP). Most people refer to these locations as “Wi-Fi hotspots” or “Wi-Fi connections.” In simple terms, a hotspot is a physical location where users can wirelessly connect their mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to the Internet.
Hotspots can be in private or public locations, such as coffee shops, airports, hotels, or even airplanes. While many public hotspots offer wireless access on an open network, others require a fee. In the next part of this article, you will learn how to connect your mobile device to a Wi-Fi hotspot. - Mobile hotspot: A mobile hotspot (sometimes called a portable hotspot) is a hotspot that moves! While a “regular” Wi-Fi hotspot is bound to a physical location, you can create a mobile hotspot using your smartphone’s data connection to connect your laptop to the Internet. This process is called “belay”. More information about this process will be described later.
You should also be aware of these terms when talking about Wi-Fi hotspots. - Access point (wireless access point): A wireless access point (WAP) is a network device that allows compliant Wi-Fi devices to connect to a wired network. The WAP may be physically connected to the router or be integrated into the router itself. WAPs cannot function as hotspots, which are physical locations where Wi-Fi access to a WLAN is available.
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is a technology that allows your smartphone or computer to access the Internet via a wireless connection. Wi-Fi uses radio signals to send and receive data between your active device and the WAP.
- SSID: The service set identifier (more commonly known as the SSID) is the unique name of the wireless network. You need to know the name of the wireless network to connect to it. Computers or smartphones can search for available wireless networks; people often give their networks names for easy identification, anything from “Bob’s phone” to “hotel guests” to “Don’t use my LAN.” After understanding some of the terms associated with hotspots, let’s learn how to connect to them.
How to Connect to a Wi-Fi Hotspot
You probably connect your smartphone or laptop to the Internet via multiple Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the day, whether you’re in the office, at home, or in public locations like coffee shops and airports. Using a hotspot is an easy way to stay connected on busy days.
Connecting to a wireless hotspot is a simple process. Let’s use a smartphone as an example. You want to answer emails at the airport while waiting for your flight, and you don’t want to use data. You can set your smartphone to notify you when it’s in range of a wireless network, or you can find wireless networks through your phone’s settings. The steps you need to follow to connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot depend on your device, Android*, iPhone*, or another make, but this is an overview.
Click the wireless icon on your device to see the names of nearby wireless networks. Select a wireless network; in some cases, you may also need to click “Connect”.
Enter the security key or password. Most wireless networks are protected and require a password to accept connections. Some networks are not secured or open and do not require a password, you must be careful when accessing them as they may pose a security risk.
Select the network type (home, work, or public, if you’re on a Windows* device). Selecting the network type determines the appropriate level of security for your location. If you select “home” or “work”, your device can be discovered by other devices. Be sure to select “public” if you are in a public location such as a coffee shop, hotel, restaurant, airport, and other similar locations.
Done! You’ll be online in a flash.
Depending on your location and the type of hotspot near you, you may be on an open unsecured wireless network or a paid/commercial wireless network. You may be asked to register for an account or use a paid service such as Boingo* or iPass*, which offer different Wi-Fi access plans depending on how long you plan to use the Internet.
For example, you can’t find the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot. Read more to learn how to use your smartphone as a portable hotspot.
Using Smartphone as Mobile Hotspot
If you’re in a location that doesn’t have a hotspot and you want to connect your laptop to the Internet, you can use your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot through a process called “tethering”. This action allows your laptop to access the Internet and share your smartphone’s data connection.
Although the setup steps vary depending on the smartphone and Internet service provider, you can usually find instructions in your phone’s Settings or in the Manage Connections menu. For security reasons, make sure you use a Wi-Fi password so that nearby Internet users cannot access your phone or laptop. Also, be aware that laptop-to-phone tethering will use up your phone’s data quota; so be sure to keep an eye on usage to avoid overcharging.
Now you’re connected, that’s all, right? Not really. Remember, though, that using a Wi-Fi hotspot is an easy way to stay connected with work, family, and friends. Hotspot connectivity also has some security risks.
Hotspot Security
One of the risks of staying connected to the Internet is that the technology itself, which helps us stay connected with work and personal life, is vulnerable to hackers and identity thieves.
When looking for public Wi-Fi hotspots, make sure you connect your smartphone or laptop only to trusted providers, for example, a hotel or coffee shop wireless network. Be careful when connecting to misspelled hotspots like Bongo instead of Boingo, as hackers sometimes use seemingly innocent names to trick unscrupulous busy users.
Hackers can also distribute malware (software that can damage or disable your computer) over unsecured Wi-Fi connections, especially if you use file-sharing programs over the same network.
Virtual Private Network (VPN/Virtual Private Network)
If you are concerned about security using a public Wi-Fi hotspot, you might consider creating a virtual private network (VPN) that allows you to use the Internet over an encrypted connection. While a VPN can deter hackers because data is encrypted, remember that a VPN can slow Internet access due to the processing power required to encrypt and decrypt the data it transmits.
Find a VPN Solution that Works
If you’re interested in using a VPN to protect yourself online:
Invest in a monthly service. This is one of the most commonly used solutions. Make sure to check it out before buying.
Consider buying a VPN-enabled router. There are several models on the market that make setting up a standalone VPN easy.
With over 9 billion Wi-Fi-enabled mobile devices expected to be in use by the end of the year, the importance of hotspots and Wi-Fi in our lives cannot be understated.