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April 14, 2006
Dear CNET members,
Public Wi-Fi access (free or paid) is one of those services that I find invaluable, and I really can't imagine being without it. In fact, a couple of times in an emergency, it saved me because I dearly needed Internet access (yes, I'm a slave to technology and the Internet). Like you, Dawn, I remember the first time I accessed a paid Wi-Fi service, not at a hotel but at an airport. I was skeptical and hesitant and never knew what to expect--after all it was public Wi-Fi access, and info in the airwaves can be captured. So I'm glad you asked and shared your concerns and want to know more about this topic. While I will let our members' answers address your questions, my tip for you is never to rely on someone's else's Wi-Fi security measures to protect your data--the first line of defense is to put your own firewall in place and constantly update virus protection on your computer. Free Wi-Fi service is great, but honestly, to me, not as safe as paid services, which offer you better protection since most have encryption in place (but then again, there are no guarantees). If you do use free services, don't transmit anything that you wouldn't write on a postcard and send for world to see. So with that said, good luck with your first experience, and I hope it is a positive one. For all members, if you have any additional do's and don'ts about accessing public Wi-Fi, please join us in this week's discussion and share a little about your public Wi-Fi experiences--good or bad. The more we advise one another, the more we'll all be safer using public Wi-Fi services with confidence. Thanks, all!
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Member Question of the Week
I will be traveling to a conference in a month, and the hotel that I am staying at has wireless Internet access. My new computer has the capability to access it, but I haven't had the chance to try it out. What should I expect and what do I need to do to be online while there? Additionally are there any do's or don'ts that I should be aware of? I am running a Dell Inspiron 9300 with Windows XP. Thank you!
Submitted by:
Dawn C. of Arizona
Wireless Internet access, or Wi-Fi, is something that 10 to 15 years ago, we probably wouldn't have thought would be a reality, and we probably would not have imagined the ways we'd use it. Now those of us who have gone Wi-Fi can't imagine living with out it. Many restaurants, coffee shops, truck stops, and hotels, and even some entire cities, have gone Wi-Fi in efforts to attract customers. And it works; I'm more likely to stay at a...
Submitted by:
Jeremy S.
For
Jeremy's
efforts, we're sending him his choice of any
Help.com Learning CD.
Community Buzz
 Each week we take a look at topics discussed in the forums.
Best regards and enjoy!
Member wizardjs, a Mac user, shares his frustration about Windows, asking: "Can a single day go by when someone doesn't find a security flaw in Windows? What are the people who write Windows doing that allows people to find a gabazillion ways to hack your computer?!" He has so far received many civil responses from our members (even from fellow Mac users), who go on to explain that it's not just Windows. Check out this hot discussion and chime in.
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Norton AntiVirus 2006 or McAfee
VirusScan 2006?
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Russian company using my e-mail address
Member Potomac was receiving numerous returned e-mail messages sent by a Russian company and found out that they are somehow using his e-mail address to send e-mail. He's has attempted to write them, but it still continues to be an issue. Does this scenario sound familiar to you? See what others have said, and if you have any advice about this seemingly hopeless situation, please advise our member.
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April security bulletins by Microsoft
Windows users, go get your security updates now. How do I know there are new security updates to my operating systems, patches to security utilities, and the most current news on security? I visit our Virus & Security forum, where our knowledgeable veteran moderators Marianna, Donna, and Roddy proactively post updates on security news and issues, informing and helping our members fight the nightmares of cyberspace. Discuss your security concerns here.
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Mac nugget: Will you be running Windows on your Intel Mac?
Mac moderator mrmacfixit asks our Mac users: Now that Apple has provided the means by which you can run Windows on your Intel Mac, Boot Camp, how many of you will actually be doing that? Is running Windows on your Mac an important part of your computing experience? Speak up, we're all listening.
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Check out next week's question:
Good day! I was browsing your newsletter and thought, why not? I have an annoying problem that won't go away. My computer crashes each and every time I try to access the Microsoft Update site and also the genuine download site. I have enlisted help from online support, and among other things, I have reformatted and deleted most of my programs, all to no avail. Would you be able to point me in the right direction? My operating system is Windows XP Pro SP2 running on an AMD 64 Athlon computer. Thank you, and kind regards.
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Will M.
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