It seems that everywhere I go lately some new business is touting that they have free wireless internet service for customers. I have yet to find a really good reason to put my laptop to work at places like at someplace like a Condo Hotels, Starbucks, or the public library. There is just something in the back of my mind that questions the safety of doing this.

It is possible to safely surf the net, via public WiFi, using a few precautions. You should know that (almost) ANYTHING that you type or any info that appears on your screen while you’re using a wireless connection can be seen by others nearby. Before conducting any transaction that includes personal information make sure the site is secure. That’s easy enough — just check that the web address begins with https instead of the usual http — and your information will be safely encrypted before transmission. As long as you’re on a page with an address that begins with https, the data you send and receive is protected from sniffers and snoopers. You really should investigate the safety of the email service you are using before sending any emails in a public forum. Many are encrypted only as far as logging into the system is concerned. This means that emails you send after logging in may be viewed publicly by those looking to snoop or steal your information. The moral of this story is to exercise caution when surfing in a public forum. The best way to safeguard your privacy is to wait to conduct personal information transactions until you are linked to a secure network.

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