Wireless Inet Question--

For those of you who use a wireless provder for your laptop, who do you use or recommend? (I just bought the 3270)..

Also, forgive my cluelessness, but what are the first steps I need to take to get started on that?

 

Usually wireless it used in tandem with a 'wireless router'.

A router is a device that connects to a broadband internet connect, like cable or DSL, then it broadcasts a wireless signal.

If your laptop is in range of such a signal, windows will tell you.

As for wireless providers, are there such service available? I heard that Philadelphia has plans to construct a wireless city, but here in Canada wireless ISP don't exist yet.

You could always drive around in your neighbourhood looking for a wireless signal [ ]

 

Here in Manhattan we have Verizon wireless available in most places, I don't know how much it costs to subscribe though. Besides, Verizon is NOT a company I would ever have dealings with again after my last experience with them.

There are also many hotspots like Bryant Park which provides a free signal. Many apartment buildings here now provide a free signal for tenants.

When I moved into my latest apartment I played with stealing neighbors signals for weeks until I got pissed with dropped signals, poor connectivity and sources just disappearing for days. It got to the point where 75% of my computer time was spent trying to connect. Plus, I started to get paranoid about security. Use someone's signal and they have access to EVERYTHING you do on the net, including passwords and the like. So I thought - Jim, just get cable dammit, so I got Earthlink. Never been happier. Until my Compaq exploded. But I guess that's how I ended up getting my Averatec, which is a far superior computer.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by BaroqueJim

 

Well, the likelyhood is that they don't know how to do it, but there is also a worrying probablility that they can. I mean, who wants to bet there's some kind of free software downloadable from the net which intercepts any data packets to and from your router?

If I had a wireless router, the first thing I would do is throw a password on there. After all, apart from the fact that someone is stealing your bandwidth, they could be downloading all kinds of illegal stuff or engaging in illegal activity - all via your connection, which I guess could easily bring the cops to your door.

So the signals I see that aren't passworded make me suspicious - who's to say people don't set them up as "fishing nets" to see what data they can steal? I certainly wouldn't engage in any financial transactions over wireless. A friend of mine who lives on Wall St had someone make a purchase with his credit card and he still has no idea how they did it - except for the fact he uses the wireless signal the building provides. I'm still not 100% convinced but he DID buy a lot of stuff over the net this way, so who knows who was intercepting his data packets.

And I used to think "well what the heck, who cares, I'll just not do anything of importance via wireless and I don't really care if they get into my email account as I have nothing to hide" - but I guess they could cause all kinds of problems with your email, like mailing offensive abuse to everyone in your contacts - your friends and family will think you've gone nuts........

Who's got the time and motivation to do stuff lke this? Probably the same socially incapable nerds who spread viruses just for the fun of it..........

Anyway, I would advise anyone to never let their guard down using a wireless signal......

 

Thanks, everyone for the input.

Well, I live in an apt. building, and guess what? I did a search on available networks, and found two that were fire-walled with passwords, and one that wasn't! I walked around my apt until the signal was strong enough that it connected. Luckily this is right at my dining room table where I can sit down. Not sure if this is a building signal or what.. It does state that the signal is weak, and from time to time I will get booted, but not often enough to be totally inconvenienced-- probably every 40 min or so.

My thought on others getting into your information is this-- either they are an expert, as you say "fishing"(unlikely), or their information would be vunerable as well.

I am just thrilled that for the time being, I don't have to set up a land line, get a router, and pay monthly i-net access fees..

 

Great! It's good you got a signal. I always say if the person didn't password his connection, they mustn't be too bothered about someone else stealing it. If there is a morality issue, I would say don't hog their bandwidth too much by downloading endless movies. Besides which, if their internet experience becomes compromised, they may be moved to password it as a result.

But don't discount the possibility that someone may be watching you! My instinct would always be not to worry too much about this, but from articles I've read recently and including one big report on the news I saw, people ARE doing it and people ARE becoming victims of identity theft in this way. I would definitely advise against buying anything over your wireless, or engaging in bank transactions, or exchanging sensitive info by email. Or looking at dwarf-on-midget pornography.

 

Regarding the comment about not engaging in financial transactions over wireless: I had that concern as well, but a good friend who is an IT person allayed those fears. He said that anything that is done over a secure website (https://) is already encrypted, even over wireless. Nothing to worry about there.

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by BaroqueJim

 

The strength of the signal you get probably depends on how many are using it - if it is a public hotspot. Sometimes the SSID name is a clue to its owner.