I ran into the situation recently where I had to run a wi-fi scan due to the fact some other routers near me were using a channel that was getting too choked up with traffic. On attempt to use NetStumbler with my Dell mini 10v, the software simply wouldn’t detect my wi-fi card at all.

At this point I was forced to seek out an alternative. It had to be free and had to be at least at good as NetStumbler. I found one: inSSIDer. Free? Yes. Just as good? Yes, and in fact it’s better in some instances (it will scan both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz.) Did it detect my wi-fi card? Yes, and did on first try.

For those wondering, yes it also does have GPS capability like NetStumbler does (for those that like to pinpoint exactly where the best spots for sources are.)

Those graphs you see aren’t just fluff. You get some good useful information out of this concerning signal strength. The interface is also much more agreeable to work with compared to NetStumbler.

The best feature about inSSIDer is that it’s stupidly easy to use. Just double-click and go. There’s nothing to configure other than selecting the wi-fi card you have. And being that most of us only have one of these in our laptop or desktop, you usually don’t have to bother with that setting either.

If you were looking for a really good wi-fi scanner tool, inSSIDer is definitely it. I give it two huge thumbs up.

Free is a relative term because it doesn’t necessarily mean "no money required". If to get the free access you must do something decidedly inconvenient, that costs you time and effort. But in these times, some are willing to be inconvenienced if it means saving a buck or two.

Method 1: Hotel parking lot.

Many hotels offer free wi-fi, and most have no security in place on access whatsoever. It’s completely open.

Method 2: Coffee shop, some restaurants

Shops like Panera Bread have free wi-fi. As long as you’re a customer you can sit with your laptop, have a coffee and check your email.

Other chains that have free wi-fi in most of their stores are Chick-Fil-A, First Watch and Hooters. Some independently owned Subway shops also have free wi-fi, but you have to call and check.

Method 3: RV campground areas

RV means Recreational Vehicle. Many campgrounds have free wi-fi on the premises. And no, you don’t need an RV to drive on one of these properties.

Method 4: Retail stores

All Apple stores have free wi-fi as do Office Depot stores.

Method 5: Airports

Most larger airports will have free wi-fi access.

Method 6: Vacation rental properties

Most of these rentals will openly state on the internet if the location has free wi-fi or not. All it takes is a drive over, start up the laptop and see if you can connect.

Method 7: Free Dial-Up

There are a few ISPs that offer dial-up for absolutely zero dollars. One of them is FreeDialup.org, available in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Method 8: Driving around (literally) using NetStumbler

I have not seen a better wi-fi scanner than NetStumbler for the Windows operating system. All you have to do is turn on the laptop, enable the software, set it on the passenger seat and just drive around slowly until your hear a tone telling you there’s a wi-fi nearby. When you hear it, take a quick glance at the screen. The software will tell you instantly whether it’s protected-access or not. For the open ones, save the settings for later use.

Disclaimer: Don’t do this. Using a laptop while driving is dumb.

Wi-fi theft, as in the act of stealing someone’s internet connectivity by breaking into a wireless network, has been around ever since we first started using wireless routers.

Before covering the topic of how likely you are for wi-fi theft, I’ll first say that wi-fi security has never been that good. If one is desperate enough to steal your signal, there’s always a way. After all, anything that is transmitted can be intercepted. And as far as cracking the password is concerned, it truly is not that difficult given the right tools.

The best way to protect yourself from wi-fi theft is to:

1. Know your wireless router’s admin program thoroughly.
2. Take steps to be less of a target.

Know your wireless router’s admin program thoroughly

Login to your admin program via the web browser for your router and go thru every setting so you get familiarized with what you can do in there. Then follow the steps below.

Remember that for every wireless router manufactured there is a downloadable PDF manual for it (as far as I know) if you lost your printed copy. Perform a Google search for your make/model of router with the word "manual" in the search term and you should be able to locate the PDF version easily.

Taking steps to be less of a target

Use WPA2 if available with a long password

The WPA2 access password can be up to 63 characters long. If you use a long password with mixed case letters, numbers, spaces and symbols, it will be very difficult to "brute force" the password out of it.

Limit connectivity to specific MAC address(es)

This is usually labeled as MAC Address Filtering within the admin program. Every modern network card has a MAC (Media Access Control) address. If you limit allowed clients to specific MAC addresses, this greatly decreases the chance of wi-fi theft.

Most wireless router admin programs allow you to directly copy the MAC address from the connected PC into the allowed client list, so there’s usually no copy/paste involved.

Note: If you use virtual PCs, they have virtual MAC addresses that the router considers real. If setting up MAC address filtering, include your virtual machines as well.

Additional note: MAC addresses can be spoofed. But someone would have to specifically know one of the allowed MAC addresses in your wi-fi network and apply it to their computer in order to break in.

Limit number of connections

If you have three computers in your house and only allow for three assigned IP addresses via the router, the only way another system can get in there is to kick one off the network first.

Once again, be mindful of virtual PCs if you use them, because they use literal IPs (if network enabled); each counts as a separate unique network connection as far as the router is concerned. If you have three real PCs and two virtual ones that are network enabled, you will need to have your router be able to assign 5 IP addresses.

Do not allow remote administration

All wireless routers to the best of my knowledge come with this feature disabled by default, so you shouldn’t have to worry about it.

Other questions answered

Does IP Lease Time affect security at all?

No. My only suggestion would have the Lease Time not set to "forever", especially if you have people in and out of your house using the wi-fi routinely. This is done strictly for convenience’s sake. Some of you out there may prefer to have IPs cleared from the DHCP list, especially for temporary assignments (such as a friend visiting and using his or her wi-fi enabled laptop).

Does disabling the broadcasting of the SSID help?

It does offer a little bit of extra security, but MAC address filtering is much more effective.

Will periodically changing my SSID deter break-ins to my wireless network?

Not really, because all that has to be done is a re-scan of the available networks.

I do, however, suggest a non-generic name to make you less attractive as a target. For example, many people have Linksys routers simply labeled as "linksys". This literally announces, "I never changed this setting in my router", and that’s not good.

At least with a custom name, whoever is trying to break into a wi-fi network will target the "easy looking" ones first, and that includes SSID names like "linksys", "belkin" and the like.

Final notes

Taking action to be less of a target is your best defense against a wi-fi break-in.

Of course, the best defense is simply shutting the router off when not in use. This may be inconvenient, but nobody can break into your network via wireless if the router is off.

When using your computer you’re obviously sitting down at a place dedicated to it. You most likely have a computer desk (or one that acts as such) and that’s where you do all your computer stuff.

Periodically there will be times when you’ll want to access internet stuff elsewhere in the house or maybe even outside. Maybe you’re working in the basement and want to do a quick email check without having to go back upstairs. Maybe someone else in the family is using the computer and you’re stuck without until they’re finished. There could be any number of reasons to want some type of computer access off the desk.

Buying a laptop for minor computer duties like this would most likely be a waste of cash and possibly too large. You need something small and easy to use. And cheap.

This is where a Sony Mylo or an Apple iPod Touch becomes an attractive option.

Both the Mylo and the Touch have wi-fi with web browser, are small and slide easy into the pocket.

Neither of them are blazing fast by any means, but it’s a cheap way of using your local wi-fi off the desk and without breaking the bank.

The Touch is obviously the more expensive of the two (it is Apple, after all) and has some snazzier features, but the Mylo is cheaper has an actual keyboard (called a "thumb pad" on it.

Here’s the Mylo in action:

Here’s the iPhone/iPod Touch being used as a TiVo remote control (yes, for real):

To note, there are other handheld wi-fi devices besides the Touch and Mylo. But the point is if you were looking for a cheap way to browse on wi-fi internet in your house off the desk, this is the way to do it.

What would you recommend?

What other handheld wi-fi devices would you check out and why?

As you may or may not be aware, airlines have been testing out in-flight internet access for consumer flights.

And you just had to know someone would start viewing porn while flying.

Well, that didn’t happen.

But the Association of Professional Flight Attendants thinks it could be a problem.

Let’s put this into perspective for a moment.

How STUPID would you have to be to view porn on a plane? Do you think the guy or girl sitting right next to you won’t see that?

The likely result of this will most likely be "nannied" internet while flying. How lovely. You’re going to pay 10 bucks for internet that’s no better than the filtered crapola at work – because you know the filters are going to censor out things it "thinks" are "bad".

To American Airlines and all other airline companies offering this service: Don’t filter your internet.