Wi-Fi Hotspots

**hoffy** · 01-10-2009, 3:05pm

Howdy all,

Does anyone here regularly use WI-Fi hotspots?

I am going to Sydney for a few days and want to be able to use the net free if I can.

Is it as easy as just letting your device find a connection and go for it? Anyone suffer any security risks?

Cheers

**ricktas** · 01-10-2009, 3:23pm

maccas! In Hobart we also have a lot of coffee shops, that if you buy a coffee you get free wifi access. guessing but maybe same elsewhere?

**Kym** · 01-10-2009, 3:50pm

Qantas club and where I stay for work is what I mainly use.
I'll grab a work 3G card if I feel like it.
Most hotels have a 'business centre' with free 'net. The room connections cost a bomb.

**Philr** · 01-10-2009, 3:51pm

Maccas! Or you could just drive around till you find someone else's unsecured network

**campo** · 01-10-2009, 3:55pm

Originally Posted by hoffy

Is it as easy as just letting your device find a connection and go for it? Anyone suffer any security risks?

As Rick said, Maccas is usually a good option!

That said, jumping on any old connection that your device may find is risky. It's not hard to setup a wireless "hotspot", make it freely available and then listen/sniff the data of unsuspecting victims....for this reason, I generally only use known connections (eg. Maccas) but also try and limit what i do on such connections (ie. no online banking, payments with CC etc).

When I travel, if i need a connection in a hurry, I'll hook up my laptop to my mobile phone and use the phone as a 3G modem. In my case it's not a super cheap option but it works.

**hoffy** · 01-10-2009, 4:11pm

Maccas sounds good. Are they truely free? I have found a bit of info on the net, but some of its conflicting.

**campo** · 01-10-2009, 4:13pm

Originally Posted by hoffy

Maccas sounds good. Are they truely free? I have found a bit of info on the net, but some of its conflicting.

Yep, the one I used on the gold coast was completely free

**jgtsai** · 01-10-2009, 5:31pm

The McDonalds across the street from the Strand Arcade, on George St. in the CBD has free wi-fi. I used it a couple of weeks ago to read news while I ate my naughty burger and fries.

**umajo** · 01-10-2009, 5:34pm

all the backpackers use maccas all the time and they tell me most of them have it and yes its free you don't even have to buy anything

**AmPhot** · 01-10-2009, 7:24pm

Hoffy, I regularly use the Maccas in Pitt St with my iPod, completely free and quite decent connection speeds.

**jev** · 01-10-2009, 10:50pm

Originally Posted by ricktas

maccas! In Hobart we also have a lot of coffee shops, that if you buy a coffee

Huh... do they sell coffee in coffeeshop? Weird...

**kiwi** · 01-10-2009, 11:02pm

http://www.freewifi.com.au/

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