moonrise
10-17-2005, 11:13 AM
I have a relatively new laptop and yesterday tried something called wifi. Admittedly I know very little, probably just enough to be dangerous! :(
Anyway there are a lot of wifi networks, some needing keys, some 'configured for public access' (not sure yet if that means what it says or if it could be other stuff as well). Found one locally way out here that said it was configured for public access too.
I was able to surf at 54 MBPS!!! The fastest I can get out here is with dailup is 26 kpbs - so it was a thrill to see the internet that fast. There's no dsl, no cable available out here and maybe I could get satellite connection (though I'm not keen on their long contracts etc.).
So looking and reading about wifi I think I understand that some just don't configure their networks securely and some people take advantage of this and take up their bandwith. Yikes that could be what I did in trying it out last night. I thought maybe I could contact this network/person and ask if I could access the net through their set up and offer to pay for this access? Is that reasonable? Is it possible? Also I've read references to wifi network websites but yet to find them except penngrove.com (while on an errand in petaluma yesterday afternoon). Are these websites where one could subscribe and get an access key? What's available in west county?
Also I understand I think that it's not secure so use a firewall and keep everything (os and antivirus) up to date and don't transmit passwords and especially credit cards over wifi - for those go back to the secure dailup connection. Is this about right?
Appreciate advice and reference to websites that are helpful.
Thanks!
Dorothy
Anyway there are a lot of wifi networks, some needing keys, some 'configured for public access' (not sure yet if that means what it says or if it could be other stuff as well). Found one locally way out here that said it was configured for public access too.
I was able to surf at 54 MBPS!!! The fastest I can get out here is with dailup is 26 kpbs - so it was a thrill to see the internet that fast. There's no dsl, no cable available out here and maybe I could get satellite connection (though I'm not keen on their long contracts etc.).
So looking and reading about wifi I think I understand that some just don't configure their networks securely and some people take advantage of this and take up their bandwith. Yikes that could be what I did in trying it out last night. I thought maybe I could contact this network/person and ask if I could access the net through their set up and offer to pay for this access? Is that reasonable? Is it possible? Also I've read references to wifi network websites but yet to find them except penngrove.com (while on an errand in petaluma yesterday afternoon). Are these websites where one could subscribe and get an access key? What's available in west county?
Also I understand I think that it's not secure so use a firewall and keep everything (os and antivirus) up to date and don't transmit passwords and especially credit cards over wifi - for those go back to the secure dailup connection. Is this about right?
Appreciate advice and reference to websites that are helpful.
Thanks!
Dorothy