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With New Public Wi-Fi Hot Spots Come New Security Concerns
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From airports to coffee shops to local parks, it's never been easier to find places to access wireless Internet networks and get online remotely at no cost. Case in point: the City of Boston is rolling out networks of free hot spots in neighborhoods and commercial districts.
But unlike home-based Wi-Fi, which usually encrypts data, public hot spots often lack adequate security. And that's not something to take lightly if you're using your phone or laptop to log into your bank account or buy something online.
WBUR's Sacha Pfeiffer gets details on the benefits, limitations and risks of free public Wi-Fi.
Guest
Hiawatha Bray, technology writer for the Boston Globe. He tweets at @GlobeTechLab.
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The Boston Globe: A Guide To Free Wi-Fi In Boston
- "Now that it’s warm, you’ll often find men and women perched outside the Quincy public library after closing time, pecking away at their smartphones. Why not? The free Wi-Fi streaming through the library walls is there for the taking."
This segment aired on June 12, 2014.
