Before you go ahead on What a Hotspot is, it’s nice to bring to your notice the nature of this life pleasing amenity. Thanks to our modern digital lifestyle, people are constantly connected online, and public Wi-Fi access points are growing to a global network of hotspots to satisfy those needs.
If you have ever tried to reply to a mail, make a quick search on the internet or wish to check a review on the epic iPhone 11 camera features, chances are that you are connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Hotspot isn’t only highly convenient; it also saves your Smartphone data.
Explicitly, Hotspot is a physical hub where mobile phones or computer users can access the internet, typically using Wi-Fi. This connection is facilitated by a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) with a router connected to an internet service provider.
Some people refer to it as Hotspot, while others call it Mobile Hotspot. Extensively, hotspots are places where people can wirelessly connect their smartphones and tablets to the internet.
A hotspot can be located in a private or public place. Examples are a coffee shop hotspot, a hotel, airplane or airport hotspot. Although many public hotspots give free wireless access on an open network, others require a subscription.
Mobile Hotspot
Let’s talk about the Mobile Hotspot. A mobile hotspot, which is also referred to as a portable hotspot, is a hotspot that is what it is. Mobile! A usual Wi-Fi network is tied to a physical hub, and that disqualifies it from being regarded as mobile because it cannot be moved from where it is as pleased.
With respect to Mobile Hotspot, you can establish a connection by using your mobile phone or tablet to connect your laptop to the internet. This process is called “tethering”.
How do you connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot?
With the probability of you having a busy life and an active online presence to achieve some of your daily goals, you probably connect your laptop, tablet, or smartphone to the internet via Wi-Fi hotspots you come across throughout your day, whether at your home, office or the coffee shop.
Connecting to a wireless hotspot isn’t a hard process. Using your smartphone as an example, the need to answer a mail or reply to a message on LinkedIn arises, and due to certain reasons, you don’t want to use your data subscription. You can program your mobile device to notify you of any wireless connection around, or you can simply search for wireless networks in the Settings app of your device.
While the operating device you hold determines where to go to enable or connect to a Wireless network, here is an overview of what you should generally go through on your device;
- Click the Wireless icon on your device to check for the nearby network.
- Select a wireless network
- In some cases, you might have to click a Connect button to enable a connection
- Enter security password
Usually, Wireless networks have security passwords for authorization. Some wireless networks are unsecured and do not require a password to accept a connection. Nonetheless, it’s advisable to be careful of connecting to such networks as they could pose threats and risks to your device.
- Select network type
This stage is often prompted when using Windows. Choosing a network type will create a security level suitable for your location. There are Home, Work, and Public options. When Home or Work is selected, your device becomes discoverable by other devices around. Ensure to choose Public if you are in public places like the coffee shop, mall, restaurant, etc.
Hotspot Security
It is not all blissful and sweet with Hotspot usage. One of the potential hazards of being connected to a Wireless connection is that it can be vulnerable to identity thieves and hackers.
This then prompts you to ensure that you are careful of the kind of Hotspot networks you connect to. When searching for a public Wi-Fi hotspot, make sure you connect your laptop, tablet, or smartphone to reputable providers only. Hackers oftentimes intentionally use misspelled Network names to lure unsuspecting public users into connecting to risky networks.
Another reason to be wary of unknown networks is the fact that hackers can circulate software that can cause damage to your computer. This malware is passed through unsecured Wi-Fi connections, and it is more effective when using a file-sharing program on the same Wi-Fi network.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Having realized the possibility of threats and impersonations from hackers, you can manage your device if you have concerns about the security of a public hotspot. A VPN enables you to access the internet through an encrypted connection. This is an effective way to dissuade hackers as your data cannot be extracted due to encryption. Effective VPN options can be gotten at the Play Store by Android users and App store by iPhone users.
The somewhat negative effect of this security method is that your flow of connection might become slow as the process required by the VPN to encrypt and decrypt your data might take some little time.
A hotspot is one of the most valuable technologies ever provided by mankind. Chances are that you are accessing our site on a hotspot. Regardless, we hope this has complemented your knowledge in any way. Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comment section.