Wi-Fi Hotspots

[hoffy]

Howdy all,

Does anyone here regularly use WI-Fi hotspots?

I am going to Sydney for a few days and want to be able to use the net free if I can.

Is it as easy as just letting your device find a connection and go for it? Anyone suffer any security risks?

Cheers

[ricktas]

maccas! In Hobart we also have a lot of coffee shops, that if you buy a coffee you get free wifi access. guessing but maybe same elsewhere?

[Kym]

Qantas club and where I stay for work is what I mainly use.
I'll grab a work 3G card if I feel like it.
Most hotels have a 'business centre' with free 'net. The room connections cost a bomb.

[Philr]

Maccas! Or you could just drive around till you find someone else's unsecured network:D

[campo]

Is it as easy as just letting your device find a connection and go for it? Anyone suffer any security risks?


As Rick said, Maccas is usually a good option!

That said, jumping on any old connection that your device may find is risky. It's not hard to setup a wireless "hotspot", make it freely available and then listen/sniff the data of unsuspecting victims....for this reason, I generally only use known connections (eg. Maccas) but also try and limit what i do on such connections (ie. no online banking, payments with CC etc).

When I travel, if i need a connection in a hurry, I'll hook up my laptop to my mobile phone and use the phone as a 3G modem. In my case it's not a super cheap option but it works.

[hoffy]

Maccas sounds good. Are they truely free? I have found a bit of info on the net, but some of its conflicting.

[campo]

Maccas sounds good. Are they truely free? I have found a bit of info on the net, but some of its conflicting.

Yep, the one I used on the gold coast was completely free

[jgtsai]

The McDonalds across the street from the Strand Arcade, on George St. in the CBD has free wi-fi. I used it a couple of weeks ago to read news while I ate my naughty burger and fries.

[umajo]

all the backpackers use maccas all the time and they tell me most of them have it and yes its free you don't even have to buy anything

[AmPhot]

Hoffy, I regularly use the Maccas in Pitt St with my iPod, completely free and quite decent connection speeds. :)

[jev]

maccas! In Hobart we also have a lot of coffee shops, that if you buy a coffee
Huh... do they sell coffee in coffeeshop? Weird... :cool:

[kiwi]

http://www.freewifi.com.au/