What Is A Hot Spot?
A wireless Hot Spot is a public area such as a coffee shop or store that allows its customers access to the Internet via a wireless connection. Users can log on to the Internet with their laptop or other device that has wireless connectivity enabled through a wireless card or other technology. Hot Spots are found in many places including airports, bookstores, libraries, and even many college campuses.
Hot Spots tend to be unsecured, allowing all user data to be shared throughout the network which can obviously be a concern. For surfing the Internet this is no problem, but if any usernames or passwords are needed, a Hot Spot may not be the best place to use them. Making purchases with a credit card via a public wireless network should also be avoided.
There is a growing number of High Speed Internet Providers that are setting up networks of hot spots across America. These include Boingo, Clearwire, T-Mobile, and many others.
Some Hot Spots have security protocols in place to offer users at least some protection. These networks generally require authentication and are usually not free. The authentication process includes giving a credit card number or other method of payment before reaching the Internet. While being more secure than a free-for-all network, users should avoid broadcasting sensitive data whenever possible.