Go Wireless With Secure Wi-Fi

By Michelle Hainer

As any mother who works from home will tell you, it's a delicate balancing act between logging enough hours in front of the computer and spending quality time with the family. But thanks to wireless Internet access -- a.k.a Wi-Fi -- now you can do both.

"I sit in my backyard with my laptop, watch my son hit golf balls, answer emails, and order groceries online all at the same time," says author Julie Edelman, of Franklin Lakes, N.J. Plus, Julie loves how neat her desk is without a bunch of confusing wires taking up valuable space.  "Wi-Fi has changed our lives," she says gratefully.

And it can do the same for you. Here's how Wi-Fi works and how your family can go wireless while staying secure.

What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi stands for wireless fidelity and it's a network that uses radio waves to connect your computer, laptop or PDA (personal digital assistant) to the Internet. With Wi-Fi, you don't need any cables or wires to log on. While Wi-Fi works with desktop computers (especially if you hate the tangle of phone cords in back of your machine), it's most beneficial with laptops because you can transport your computer from the basement to the backyard without losing your web connection.

Plus, your entire family can surf the web at the same time since Wi-Fi allows multiple computers to connect to the Internet simultaneously. Translation: you'll never have to hear "Mom, Timmy's hogging the computer and I need to get online!" again.

What do I need?
If your computer is less than four years old, it probably came with a built-in wireless card, which makes the magic of Wi-Fi possible, according to Keith Underdahl, author of Wi-Fi Home Networking For Dummies. Check your computer's instruction booklet to make sure. If it doesn't have a wireless card you can purchase one that's easy to insert into your computer (call your computer maker and ask for a recommendation).

To get going, you'll also need a wireless access point (WAP) -- which is commonly called a hotspot -- to hook your computer online from anywhere in your house. You can use a wireless router or Apple Airport, for example, as your WAP. Just look for a router that supports 80211.g technology (i.e. Wi-Fi). From there, plug your DSL or cable modem into the router (but the router connects your computer to the Internet with no cords or cables, thanks to your wireless card).

How do I get connected?
For starters, you'll need to name your new network -- your own official hotspot -- which is known as your SSID. Choose something unique that other people can't easily guess, like "HipWiFiFamily2007." After you've logged into your WAP, you can usually click on a Wireless button or tab, and then you'll be able to enter your SSID.

At this point, some computers just jump right on to the nearest Wi-Fi network as soon as they detect it. For others you'll need to manually select or set up your hotspot -- just go to System Preferences and select Network or Internet, for example, and follow the steps (sometimes you'll use a Network Setup Assistant). Once your wireless connection is up and running, you'll see a little icon on your computer. On a Mac, it's usually located on the top right corner of the computer. On a PC, it's on the bottom right hand corner near the clock.

From here, you'll be able to use your Wi-Fi access at home or even while you're on the road. Next time you've got a couple of hours to kill while you're waiting to pick up your kids from school or a play date, pop into a local caf‚ or restaurant and ask if they have a hotspot.

Some places, like the national restaurant Panera, offer free Wi-Fi. Others, like Starbucks, allow you to purchase access from a carrier like T-Mobile, which charges $19.99 to $29.99 per month or $9.99 for a day pass. (You'll see a pink sign that says "T-Mobile Hotspot," on the doors of participating places.) Not a coffee drinker? Yahoo can help you find other hotspots in your area.

How can I make sure it's secure?
Popping open your laptop and surfing the web anytime, anywhere is definitely convenient. But with reward often comes risk and Wi-Fi is no exception. In public hotspots (or in apartment buildings where Wi-Fi signals often cross) users can "steal" your Internet signal if it isn't secure. Underdahl warns that if they then download something illegal, you might be held accountable.

Also, an unsecured Wi-Fi network leaves you susceptible to users hacking into your computer and stealing valuable information like credit card numbers and passwords. "You have to consider what you have on your laptop," Underdahl says. "If you have company secrets, you might not want to use your laptop in a public hotspot." Underdahl offers four tips to making your Wi-Fi network as secure as possible:

1. Stay anonymous At least a couple of times a year, monthly if you live in an apartment building, rename your home's hotspot/SSID.
2. Set a password Your router or Airport should have come with software or a built-in capability that allows you to protect your wireless network with a password (sometimes it's called WPA-PSK). So you can require that a password be entered to access your Wi-Fi connection. To play it safe, set up a password, and change it often.
3. Lock down Make sure that file sharing is turned off on your computer when you're in a public place (again go to System Preferences and look for Sharing or File Sharing). This will prevent another Wi-Fi user from getting on to your computer and stealing your files.
4. Log off Turn off your wireless connection when not in use. (Click on the Wi-Fi icon and it should give you an option to do so.)

Now that a whole new wireless world has been opened up to you, it won't be long before you can't imagine what your life was like before Wi-Fi. "It's like having everything at your fingertips," Edelman says. Now if only your computer could cook dinner too.