Everybody needs hotspot Internet access from time to time, but have you ever thought about how to make it as safe and efficient as possible? There are lots of hacks that even a beginner can use to get the most out of this resource, starting with help tracking those elusive hotspots down…
If you need a Wifi connection but aren’t sure where to look, don’t worry! There are plenty of tools that mean you won’t have to hang around in the street, looking like someone who is up to no good. Boingo is one example, a service that gives you access to the hundreds of Boingo hotspots around the globe. The only problem with services like Boingo is that many require membership and/or subscription, which isn’t exactly what you want to hear in your time of need. NetStumbler is a no-subscribe alternative, but I think it’s always good to have a few on hand, because hotspot finders are famously finicky.
What about safety? Are you sure that no one is taking advantage of the fact that you are taking advantage of some free Internet? You’ll need to protect yourself from possible attacks, and luckily there are plenty of programs that will help you do just that. Hotspot Shield is a perennial favorite, re-routing your IP address through a VPN (virtual private network) connection of its own. This blurs your connection’s origins, making it much harder to hack.
As these programs work by making your IP address a little hard to pin down, they also have another, unexpected benefit. Many of the US’s most popular websites - such as Hulu and Pandora - are not available outside of the country. These companies know whether you are on American soil by - wait for it - looking at your IP address! Obviously, if they can’t tell that you’re not in the US, they can’t prevent you from accessing their sites, a surprise that makes IP based-hotspot shields twice as attractive! (more…)
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