wifi passwords

[artitude]

Everyone on You Tube says they can find wifi all over the place.
But, how is that possible when everyone wants you to put in a password, and you don't know the password. How is wifi use possible without a password.

Ken

[rk911]

artitude wrote:
Everyone on You Tube says they can find wifi all over the place.
But, how is that possible when everyone wants you to put in a password, and you don't know the password. How is wifi use possible without a password.

Ken

if you're in a public place with wifi there may not be a password. if there is, ask. we were in a restaurant last night that offered free wifi but there was a password. a server provided it to me when asked.

[trail-explorer]

artitude wrote:
Everyone on You Tube says they can find wifi all over the place.
But, how is that possible when everyone wants you to put in a password, and you don't know the password. How is wifi use possible without a password.

Not everyone password protects their wifi.

All routers should come pre-configured with a password, but that didn't use to be the case in the early days of wifi.

[Almot]

Re: free VPN.
Was unable to find ANY work-able free VPN to watch Hulu from Canada. Majority of free VPN don't work at all, don't even waste your time. Those few that do, would assign some weird IP location like Ukraine or Zimbabwe, useless for my purposes. I "think" one did work for a while, though slowed connection down too much, and then stopped working. Proves old saying - you get what you pay for.
Can't trust any of them in terms of security either.
Oh yeah, - and Hulu ever since then have been trashing my mailbox with offers, ads and promotions 🙂

[3oaks]

time2roll wrote:

artitude wrote:
Thanks to several people who offered help.
I also have a phone, but I need to go on line with my computer and am looking for ways to do it at a reasonable cost.

Full time RVer as of April 1, 2017

So the real question is how to find and use free wifi?

Most RV parks that provide 'free' wifi have poor signal and service and often many limitations. You will need to seek it out in your travels and make adjustments to your schedule if you want free.

Otherwise you can pay...

We use public libraries most of the time. I have yet to encounter one that charged a fee. But we always leave them a donation as a thank you.

Some states offer free WiFi at their interstate rest areas, Iowa is one. But there is too much foot traffic all around you for any privacy at all.

[time2roll]

artitude wrote:
Thanks to several people who offered help.
I also have a phone, but I need to go on line with my computer and am looking for ways to do it at a reasonable cost.

Full time RVer as of April 1, 2017

So the real question is how to find and use free wifi?

Most RV parks that provide 'free' wifi have poor signal and service and often many limitations. You will need to seek it out in your travels and make adjustments to your schedule if you want free.

Otherwise you can pay...

[darsben1]

Time Warner has hotspots all over for their customers, Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Wendy's etc have open free wifi.
You have to look and your settings may be excluding open(unsecure networks)

[artitude]

Thanks to several people who offered help.
I also have a phone, but I need to go on line with my computer and am looking for ways to do it at a reasonable cost.

Full time RVer as of April 1, 2017

[ctilsie242]

The days of free, high-bandwidth Wi-Fi are over, mainly killed by abuse and increasing costs. Most places may have enough bandwidth (assuming someone decides not to fire up YouTube and watch 4k vids) for Web browsing, but not much more.

I personally recommend doing all the big, high bandwidth stuff at home on your local network. If you have a lot of YouTube videos you want to watch, save them offline. Then, you don't have to worry as much about finding Wi-Fi to do stuff, and when you need Wi-Fi, it is for low bandwidth tasks.

[wa8yxm]

Yes you can find WI-Fi all over and yes Most places secure it Thank Hackers and "War-Drivers" who either steal bandwidth or .. Everything of importance on your computer (including your ID).

But Libraries often will either let you use it, or let you use it for a small fee. McDonalds, Burger King, Lowes, home Depot, Wal*Mart, Subway, Ruby Tuesdays (Sucks near me) Denny's (Blazing bandwith Batman (The one nearest me is fantastic, other restaurants. Staples, Rest areas (some of them) Campgrounds and so many other places I can not list them all now have Free Wi-Fi.. MOST (But not all) use special routers that DIS-allow peer to peer connections within the network (Makes it harder, but not impossible, for hackers) some....

Well, I recall one campground not all that long ago (They have since upgraded) I'd get over to the Family Center, which is where the Wi-Fi Worked, long about 7:30/8am and log in.. Get my IP assignment and all was good.. long about 9:30 folks were "I can't connect".. NOTE: the SSID was LINKSYS back then I kid you not.

Well, I'd set 'em up with a Static IP and instructions on how to switch back to Dynamic, and they were good..

Finally I decided to "hack".. I typed in the URL of the router, it responded (no surprise) and ask for a user name and password.. I entered the DEFAULT user name and password, and it said "Welcome" I checked and found it was set to hand out only 50 addresses.. Changed it to 100 and logged out.

Next day I'm helping Susie connect (Same issue) I explained that when they set it up a few folks used laptops but today we have Laptops, Cell phones, PDA, Tablets and even the park's game machine... Logged back in and displayed the DCHP list.. Including one entry "Susie's I-Phone".. That's when I found out her name.. Her phone.

With this type of router. Well,, Easy to connect to your system and download, and since you are WITHIN the LAN (local net) the hardware firewall in the router won't help.

Today you have to enter a password, then you need a user name and password, and it's "Gated" so you can't peer to peer. Which is good.

[doxiemom11]

We have seen/and used at Walmart, grocery stores, libraries, restaurants, laundromats, tire store, etc. etc. They provide the free wifi for their customers, and we do make a point to be a customer when we use it even if it's just to order coffee or have an ice cream cone or a burger. Small town libraries also tend to have no time limitation as long as there is no one else waiting. We now have our own mobile internet thru verizon, data only pkg with a jetpack.

[braindead0]

Almot wrote:
artitude, the average level of tech competence on Yutube is low. People are using it (Yutube and cell phones) but know zilch about it and/or can't express themselves clearly. A common problem.

Here's a really good example that I think illustrates your point:

"how to replace a 2 stroke powerband"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-jX9mJfbps

[2oldman]

I'm not sure where on Youtube you find people saying that. This smells like a bait post.

[agesilaus]

Even at those Free hotspots you need to use them carefully. There is nothing that would stop anyone from setting up a 'free hotspot' and then stealing whatever info (passwords, banking logins ect) that you enter on that site. Good security starts with you.

[Almot]

artitude, the average level of tech competence on Yutube is low. People are using it (Yutube and cell phones) but know zilch about it and/or can't express themselves clearly. A common problem.

There are WiFi spots "everywhere" - almost. I've just spend a month in a place where there is no WiFi or cell phone service in 100-mile radius.

When there is a WiFi, it may or may not be password-protected. Personal plans and strictly business/employees communications are protected, they don't want free-loaders. Public places and certain businesses like coffee shops may have free WiFi that is not password-protected, though in hotels it's usually protected and they tell you password when you check-in. Still, you are NOT supposed to use a coffee shop WiFi if you are not a paying customer. There was a lawsuit by one fast-food joint, the guy parked nearby and used their WiFi.