By Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
(1/24/03)

What's the use of your laptop's wireless card or your wireless handheld device if you can't access the Net wherever you go? Don't bother answering--the fact is, you can use your Wi-Fi almost anywhere. Wireless Internet is all around you, as long as you know where to look.

Every wireless access point (AP)--that is, a box with an antenna and a wired Internet connection that sends out radio signals within a limited range--creates a region of connectivity around it. Some coffee shops, for instance, install access points so that you can get online from an outside table, and airports employ them to make sure that business travelers don't have to search for Ethernet jacks. All of these access points, and even private APs, such as those in homes or large office buildings, create regions of Internet access that roving laptops, including yours, might access. These areas of connectivity, when they're open to the public, are commonly referred to as hot spots.

Of course, it's easy to stumble onto wireless access that isn't really public in the legal sense, and you probably shouldn't just hop a ride on any old network you find. So, how can you get your head into the clouds of access all around you and avoid any messy legal issues while you're at it? Read on.

How to find a hot spot
Where to look, what to look for, and when to hitch a ride.

Wardriving gear
Find out what hardware and software can help you jump the wireless train.

Hot spot hunting horrors
Wardriving sounds easy, but you may hit some snags. Fair warning follows.

Extreme hunting
If you're serious about hot spot hunting, check out some of this additional gear.

Bonus: stopping wardrivers
Consider the flip side--keeping wardrivers out of your wireless network.

Show me how to find a hot spot!

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is a frequent contributor to CNET Reviews. Have a question for him? We'll pass it on!