There are, of course, privacy and security risks involved in using Wi-Fi on public wireless networks, such as the hotspots found in many airports or cafes. While the convenience is a blessing, it can also be a curse. It’s important to keep your guard up, even if you’re relaxing on vacation, bored out of your mind on a layover, or trying to maximize your productivity on a business trip. Should you use the Wi-Fi at the airport or at a hotel? First, consider these points.
What are the real security risks?

To make a sound choice, it’s important to understand what's really at stake when using public wireless networks. Can eavesdroppers see your banking details? E-mails? Usernames and passwords? The answer is…it depends.

Any data transferred between a user and a Website using an HTTPS address (note the “s” at the end of “http”) and SSL encryption, such as online banking sites, is just as secure on a hotspot as it would be on a private secured network. Wi-Fi hackers or eavesdroppers sitting around the hotspot cannot capture a user’s login credentials or see any information from these secured sites.

However, eavesdroppers can capture Web traffic on other sites that use the unsecured HTTP address. For most people this isn't a problem. If you’re just passively viewing sites--checking the news or sports scores, for instance—you’re fine. Your risks increase, however, if you must login to sites that aren’t secured. Even if the site isn't all that sensitive, such a