| Every modern notebook is Wi-Fi enabled,
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| | backward compatible with IEEE 802.11b,
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| allowing internet access from any part of
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| | thus 802.11g can leverage the widespread,
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| the globe. But while using your wireless
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| | international adoption of IEEE 802.11b in
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| notebook, you should be aware of Wi-Fi
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| | products from laptops to PDAs. A personal
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| standards, hotspots, and how to
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| | firewall, such as ZoneAlarm or BlackICE
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| effectively use this technology to make
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| | can significantly add up to the security
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| the optimum use of your notebook.
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| | level of your notebook.
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| The 802.11g Wi-Fi standard is the latest
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| | 3 - Whenever you are using your notebook
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| standard, which your notebook follows
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| | at a Wi-Fi hotspot, make it a point not
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| when you are online. The Wi-Fi alphabet
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| | to send data. While you are surfing, do
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| spaghetti consists of protocols like
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| | not type your credit-card number,
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| 802.11, 802.15, 802.16, and 802.20.
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| | expiration date, passwords, bank account
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| However, for most notebook users 802.11
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| | numbers, etc. Sensitive data are the
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| would be sufficient with added `a`, `b`,
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| | goldmines for hackers, and they will
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| or `g`.
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| | swipe your bank account before you can
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| There are protocols like `e`, `h`, `i`,
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| | finish saying, ` I have been a victim of
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| and `n` that are waiting in the wings to
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| | online identity theft!`
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| make their entry. Nevertheless, as of
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| | 4 - Consider not staying online while
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| now, 802.11g is the only protocol that
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| | working. If the risks outweigh the
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| one needs to think when it comes to
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| | benefits, then it would be better to stay
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| wireless connectivity. The latest Wi-Fi
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| | offline; at least until the new 802.11i
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| standard is the 802.11g and offers
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| | standard is not implemented. Even then,
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| connection speeds up to 54 Mbps in the
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| | the security can be breached, albeit with
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| 2.4 GHz radio bands, which is five times
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| | difficulty. If you do not need Wi-Fi to
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| more than the previous standard 802.11b.
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| | implement your work, then stay switched
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| It is more stable, more secure, and
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| | off. If you need the Wi-Fi just to send
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| backward compatible.
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| | and receive files, then stay connected
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| Almost all notebooks that are
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| | for only that period. Rest of the time,
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| manufactured today are 802.11g Wi-Fi
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| | stay offline.
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| standard ready. This standard is also
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| | Precautions to take at a public Wi-Fi
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| designed to replace the older Wired
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| | hotspot:
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| Equivalent Privacy or WEP by specifying
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| | Whenever you are in public domain, you
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| the Wi-Fi Protected Access or WPA. The
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| | need to take precautions, as it is free
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| WPA will function as an interim solution,
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| | for all. The Wi-Fi hotspots are available
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| until the next standard, the 802.11i
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| | to any and every person, and anybody can
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| network security standard is implemented
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| | be connected. Besides online thefts,
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| with a new algorithm called Temporal Key
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| | there is also the risk of offline thefts.
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| Integrity Protocol, which shall be much
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| | While in a public hotspot, do not be so
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| more secure and reliable.
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| | absorbed with your notebook, that you
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| However, until the new standard is
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| | fail to notice the people around you.
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| implemented, the 802.11g is to be
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| | There are persons who are in the business
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| followed. There are only two
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| | of stealing notebooks, from public
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| disadvantages with this notebook Wi-Fi
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| | hotspots. And they do not operate as
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| standard, that firstly, since it is a new
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| | individuals but as a gang.
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| standard, it may not perform as promised;
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| | Also, while you are online at a public
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| and secondly, with fast emerging latest
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| | hotspot, follow simple rules like
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| technologies, it may become obsolete by
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| | encrypting files before transferring or
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| newer standards before you have the time
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| | emailing them; making sure you are
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| to benefit from it.
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| | connected to a legitimate access point;
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| Few tips for a secure Wi-Fi experience:
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| | and file sharing is turned off. Basic
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| 1 - You should raise the level of your
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| | precautions like password protecting your
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| laptop settings. Raise the security
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| | notebook, updating your system regularly,
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| settings of software applications like
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| | and using anti-virus software should be
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| Microsoft Outlook and Internet Explorer.
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| | strictly followed. For further online
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| Update them frequently to ensure latest
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| | security, consider using a personal
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| protection from hackers and viruses. You
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| | firewall, a virtual private network
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| should keep the encryption feature always
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| | (VPN), and web-based email with secure
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| on to ensure safest browsing with Wi-Fi.
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| | http (https).
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| 2 - Along with the software, you should
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| | Having a good Wi-Fi experience directly
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| also consider updating to better
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| | translates into a satisfying Internet
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| hardware. Hackers have always found
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| | experience. With the above suggestions
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| 802.11a and 802.11b very easy to hack.
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| | being implemented, you are guaranteed to
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| However, 802.11g is harder to crack and
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| | have a pleasant online time with your
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| you should consider upgrading your
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| | notebook.
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| hardware to a `g` card. An 802.11g is
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