Most people take for granted the security of their computers connection to the outside world. And in many homes and offices this is a reasonably good assumption. But, things do change when someone, armed with a laptop computer and a wireless WIFI connection ability visits a local public hotspot, perhaps at the local coffee shop.
These type of locations are rapidly growing and provide temporary internet connections to visitors through wireless devices called wireless routers. They offer a convenient way to use your own computer with the internet at little cost to the service owner. These wireless connections, since they are public, are not configured with the security and encryption protection that a normal private network should have.
In these locations, it is possible for anyone with minimal hardware and software to eavesdrop on any of the wireless broadcasts that are taking place. And since there is little or no network security, usernames and passwords can be easily stolen.
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