help a wi-fi noob?

bettielee · Jan 31, 2011

hello.

I just got a Kindle (applause!!)

but I have a question. I didn't care about wi-fi, etc, as I thought it would be very easy to transfer books from my kindle for mac application - however, it's not. It seems I have to RE-DOWNLOAD all the fabulous free books and then put them on the Kindle. grrrr. I think I would rather do this right on the kindle over wi-fi, if I can... however, I don't have wi-fi in my little apt.

That I pay for anyway.

I did check out the wi-fi options, and there were five. Four had little locks on them, and there was one that had a lock, and then another with a similar name and no lock that said "guest". I am wondering... is it cool to jump on and use that? Or are you virtually ripping someone off? I also wonder if it isn't the MCDonald's across the street, as I know they have a wi-fi.

Can you help a wi-fi noob out?!

Williebee · Jan 31, 2011

Miss Bettie,

What you are describing sounds an awful lot like "theft of services". It has some other legal names, depending on what state you are in.

I would not recommend it.

Now, if you were to bop over to McDonalds and have a hot fudge sundae, and take a really long time to eat it, and use their wifi, that is for customers, and you were a customer... Well, that's what they offered if for.

kuwisdelu · Jan 31, 2011

You may not have WiFi, but I assume you do have internet, unless you're posting from said McDonald's? If so, I suggest just buying a cheap router and setting up a wireless network for yourself.

bettielee · Jan 31, 2011

Williebee said:
Miss Bettie,

What you are describing sounds an awful lot like "theft of services". It has some other legal names, depending on what state you are in.

ah, see, I didn't know that. Tha's why I ast.

I wasn't sure if it was cool or not.

I shall go to Starbucks instead. Much more pretentious and I can have a mocha that doesn't taste like diesel fuel.

Kuwi - I need all mah money for books now.

oh wait... a .99 sundae would actually fit the budget better... maybe if I wear a kicky beret I can bring my pretentiousness with me.

Thank you both for the knowledge and the inputs.

Matera the Mad · Feb 2, 2011

Some libraries have wifi too.

RJK · Feb 2, 2011

I'm sure you're a regular customer at Mickey D's, and if their signal is strong enough for you to get a good connection, one of two things are happening. Either they are broadcasting a much more powerful signal than they should, or, they don't care if their neighbors pick up the signal.

If it's a poor signal, where you get dropped all the time, you shouldn't use it. It wasn't meant for use beyond the building.

Deleted member 42 · Feb 2, 2011

Williebee said:
Miss Bettie,

What you are describing sounds an awful lot like "theft of services". It has some other legal names, depending on what state you are in.

I would not recommend it.

I also would not recommend it, not only because it is theft, unless a neighbor gives you permission, but because it's "open."

It's potentially what's called a "honeypot"; an open router designed to lure in users, and which allows the router-owner to collect passwords and other data.

bettielee · Feb 2, 2011

Medievalist said:
I also would not recommend it, not only because it is theft, unless a neighbor gives you permission, but because it's "open."

It's potentially what's called a "honeypot"; an open router designed to lure in users, and which allows the router-owner to collect passwords and other data.

Yes, that is why I was as'tin this question, cuz I didn't know the ins and outs of wifi - if it are free, or you know... stealin'. I don't wanna steal.

The one with the "guest" is the McDonald's. I checked. And yes... I might be a purveyer of the McD's, but I'm going to starbux to use my Kindle... to pretend I have taste and class... I thought I established that?!

Matera: my library is a no go

maestrowork · Feb 2, 2011

There are free wifi almost everywhere. McDonald's. Barnes & Noble's. Starbucks. Bruegger's. Even your neighborhood coffee shops. My favorite Chinese restaurant has free wifi. No need to steal from the neighbors.

bettielee · Feb 2, 2011

You are losin' it Ray. I wasn't going to steal from the neighbors. I was going to steal from the McDonald's.

Get with it, dude.

Deleted member 42 · Feb 2, 2011

A couple of months ago I visited a local Barnes and Noble to look at Nooks.

I saw three people with Kindles furtively using the store's free wifi . . .

maestrowork · Feb 2, 2011

My favorite free hotspots are Starbucks, BN, and Panera Bread (until the local office drones knew about all these places and promptly make them their branch offices in swarms).

kuwisdelu · Feb 2, 2011

*is still waiting for free hotspots to wizen up and use WPA2 with a generic common-knowledge password*

*uses them anyway because CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT INTERNET*

maestrowork · Feb 2, 2011

Shouldn't matter to you as long as you have firewall set up...

kuwisdelu · Feb 3, 2011

maestrowork said:
Shouldn't matter to you as long as you have firewall set up...

WPA still offers extra security over an open network against other people on the same network. Here's a good article on it.

Torgo · Feb 8, 2011

BTW, if you see a network called 'Free Public Wifi', don't bother trying to connect. It's a rather interesting viral glitch from old versions of Windows XP and probably means someone near you has a horribly insecure laptop.

Gorandius · Feb 9, 2011

There may be some gas stations near where you live that have free Wi-Fi. There's a Shell station in my town that has it, along with a bunch of tables regularly used in the Jimmy John's area. In agreement with previous posters, be sure that you have proper security on your laptop(if you have one?) and your Kindle, if those devices have different or changeable security settings. No need for viruses corrupting files or wantonly destroying stuff!

If you have a laptop, I suggest Avira AntiVirus. There may be other opinions regarding the program, but it has yet to fail me.

help a wi-fi noob?

bettielee

I'm a sparkly fairy princess!

Williebee

Capeless, wingless, & yet I fly.

kuwisdelu

Revolutionize the World

bettielee

I'm a sparkly fairy princess!

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Deleted member 42

bettielee

I'm a sparkly fairy princess!

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

bettielee

I'm a sparkly fairy princess!

Deleted member 42

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

kuwisdelu

Revolutionize the World

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

kuwisdelu

Revolutionize the World

Torgo

Formerly Phantom of Krankor.

Gorandius

Braincage rattler...