The rise in popularity of wireless technology is an indicator of the convenience this type of connection provides. There is no greater proof of the potential for wireless technology than Wi-Fi connectivity. Most desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablets and mobile devices sold today are manufactured with all the necessary components to connect to the Internet, through wireless LAN technology.
Many of the road warriors that travel on business for their company, students that enjoy doing homework off-campus and individuals visiting the local coffee shop all use the public Wi-Fi. The level of convenience it provides to easily connect through an open Wi-Fi system in a hotel, café, or other area in the public can be immeasurable at times. In all, there are significant advantages and major disadvantages that can provide both positive and negative results.
The Advantages of a Public Wi-Fi System
The significant advantages of connecting through a public Wi-Fi system to gain access to the Internet are numerous. Some of those include:
- Convenience – Public Wi-Fi wireless technology provides instant Internet access for business or personal use, from a huge assortment of convenient locations. These locations can be found in suburban and urban areas at hotels, airports, coffee shops, libraries and others. At many of these locations, the connection is free.
- Mobility – It has only been within the last decade that people can have Internet access outside their home or work environment. Mobile technology has made online connections available on nearly any device including smartphones. This provides huge flexibility and efficiency.
- Increased Productivity – In the workplace, businesses recognize the increased levels of productivity when employees can accomplish their duties outside of the office from many convenient locations. This provides the opportunity to keep in contact with the main office during the workday, or while traveling in any location around the world that has Internet connections.
- Deployment – In the old days, before wireless technology, Internet users could only gain access to online connections using physical cables. Today, however, the deployment system of wireless networks necessitates only a single access point that can be instantaneous when pre-set.
- Costs and Expandability – The cost of hardware to connect to the Internet is minimal. It is now provided in nearly every type of computer and mobile device automatically. The cost of connecting to a public Wi-Fi depends on various factors. Hotels typically charge their visiting guests a daily amount, while coffee shops, libraries and other public places offer the connection for free.
The Disadvantages of a Public Wi-Fi System
The significant disadvantages of connecting through a public Wi-Fi system can be substantial. An unsecured connection can cause irreparable harm to a business if the company server has been compromised from an online hacker. Other major disadvantages have to do with the inherent limiting capabilities of the technology itself. All of these include:
- Low-Level Security – While it is easy to set up a second layer of security on a private network system by involving a high-level form of encryption technology, a public Wi-Fi connection is built to be open. This inherent weakness in the system is easy to compromise, leaving every connected user at a disadvantage to anyone wanting to do harm.
- Limited Range – When standard equipment is utilized, the average range of a traditional 802.11g network system typically only has a range of 100 feet or less. While this type of range is more than sufficient for an average size house, it can put significant strains on any structure that is larger. To achieve optimal range, the provider will need to offer additional points to access or build in repeaters, which can be expensive.
- Reliability – Transmitting on radio frequencies, the wireless network system continually has the potential for numerous types of interference as well as other complex broadcast effects that are simply beyond the network administrator’s control.
- Speed – Wired connected devices through the network system can achieve 100 Mbps and upwards to 10 Gbps. Alternatively, most standard wireless networks can achieve between 1 and 54 Mbps, which is significantly slower.
Many individuals are either out of touch or unaware of the problematic security issues concerning public Wi-Fi. It is extremely easy for a hacker to steal username/password combinations and breach the accounts of the user, even after they have disconnected from the public Wi-Fi.
In addition to that, it is easy for a cyber-hacker to pose as a public Wi-Fi hotspot and trick the user in a variety of ways, including a man in the middle attack, to steal the user’s credentials.
One way around this problem is to incorporate VPN (virtual private network) technology, and only logging into secured sites. Using multi-factor authentication solutions also serve to help create an additional layer of protection when connecting to a public Wi-Fi. There are many individuals that prey on others connected to a public network, to steal information or gain access into a company’s intranet.