How do I know if I'm accessing a Wi-Fi Hot-spot

My new laptop has wireless and my local precinct has a Wi-Fi hot-spot.

Presumably, to use the hot-spot, I just turn on the wireless LAN and choose the hot-spot from the list of wireless networks shown to be within range?

One question.

Will the Wi-Fi hot-spot be clearly labelled as such, or will it just have a name like "BTHomeHub-3C25" or "Animal", like the wireless networks I find near my home?

I ask because, occasionally, I find an unsecured wireless network running in my neighbourhood (a Belkin 54G as it happens) and I don't want to be using someone's network by mistake, instead of a public Wi-Fi service.

Also, will the Wi-Fi be a lot faster than my 3 Dongle?

In reply to a post by Mini_Laptop:

Also, will the Wi-Fi be a lot faster than my 3 Dongle?

No way to know in advance.

Yes if you are the only person using the hotspot and/or it has a good internet connection behind it maybe.

For example say it's BT OpenZone but that in turn connects to the internet via a poor ADSL connection - that speed will in turn be shared with anyone else using the hotspot.

Firstly officially hotspots will be configured with a branded SSID so you can check that online - you will be able to tell it apart from the likes of SKYnnnn, NETGEAR or Belkin 54g

Secondly they will have a login screen - if you need to be registered to use them. This means you will have to first open a browser to get logged in before skype / email client or other not a web browser program will work.

Thirdly be aware people can call their own access points whatever they want so don't assume anything you connect to is what it claims to be - this in principle could be used to steal login credentials for a given service.

In reply to a post by prlzx:

Thirdly be aware people can call their own access points whatever they want so don't assume anything you connect to is what it claims to be - this in principle could be used to steal login credentials for a given service.

I never do anything confidential (eg. buying things) using wireless or dongle.

Anything like that I do via my BT Home Hub.

No probs if it's a free hotspot and you don't have to be registered to a service provider to use it (you didn't say).

What I mean is anyone can mock up a landing page claiming to be for e.g BT OpenZone and using it to steal BT OpenZone logins.

Same goes for any hotspot service that relies on a landing page to login.

Edited by prlzx (Mon 06-Jul-09 00:43:41)

Sorry. I thought you meant login details for Hotmail, Forums, Amazon etc.