I want to get a basic laptop and whatever else I need to access the internet when I am away from home. What all do I need--be specific--pretend you are directing a 3rd grader. (After 3rd grade these kids can hack into the White House computers.)
#SDNY he's all yours. -- Michael Steele 5110 Posts 3/03
Posted - Apr 9 2007 : 1:27PM
It depends on whether you need to be able to connect from almost anywhere at any time, or if you'll be OK with just using free wireless hotspots at hotels, airports, coffeeshops, etc.
If the latter, then virtually any laptop on the market nowadays will be fine. They essentially all have built-in WiFi (you'll see a reference to something like "802.11g" in the product description). Note, however, that these public wifi hotspots are not secure. Virtually all laptops will also have a jack to connect to a normal wired network, just like a desktop machine.
If you need continuous access, then you'll need something like mobile broadband service from one of the cell phone companies. I really don't know much about these; maybe someone else can chime in.
Think of it as having a conversation in a public place, or using a two-way radio. Given the right equipment, which isn't too hard to obtain, anyone can 'overhear' what it is you're sending and receiving.
#SDNY he's all yours. -- Michael Steele 5110 Posts 3/03
Posted - Apr 9 2007 : 10:31PM
It means that you're sending and receiving data which is not encrypted in any way (unlike a properly set-up home or office wireless network), and which anyone in the vicinity who has the equipment and the inclination can intercept. So, theoretically, if you log onto your hotmail account, or your online banking account, or whatever, from a public hotspot, someone could pluck the login info out of the air. Supposedly there are even people out there who set up fake or lookalike hotspots for the sole reason of doing this.
I almost got caught by someone setting up a network like that at the JFK Jet Blue terminal. They used a very convincing SSID but I knew something was up when I couldn't get to google.
Next time I run afoul of the adt authorities I'll link to this thread and claim my account was hijacked in the Atlanta Greyhound Terminal by the Armenian Mafia.
If you're connected to the right site, all the traffic between your computer and the bank's server will be encrypted anyway. I can't imagine any bank would allow on-line banking traffic to go out onto the Wild Web unencrypted. I'd certainly never use such a bank.
And, IIRC, HotMail/MSN's login bit is encrypted also, though the later traffic isn't.
Yes, but the hotels I've stayed in with WiFi have had spotty service. Some rooms have good signal quality and others really suck. (There's a lot of concrete and steel in most hotels which kills signal strength.)
We typically find better wireless service in remote areas of Mexico than we do in major hotels in the U.S.
Since you put it in quotes, I'll make the assumption that you don't know what it is. (Ignore it if you do). A jack is a plug recepticle. So if you have an ethernet "jack" on your computer, that means you have a little place to plug in a network cable. You'd plug the other end of the cable into a wall "jack."
Many in-room hotel networks provide a retractable cable that is built into the base of the network interface port. It's typically a plastic blob of a device about the size of two hockey pucks stacked on top of each other. I've found these types of connections to be far more reliable than the in-room wireless networking support.
