There's no need to use up your precious 4G data allowance when you're around town, as so much free Wi-Fi is now available. In this feature we show you how and where to find it, plus also a few things to watch out for so your information remains secure.
Use your scanner
Your Android will already tell you if a Wi-Fi connection is secured or not. Just go to Settings > Wi-Fi and look for connections that are labeled 'open' or 'unsecured' and connect. Failing that, a connection to a secured network is just a password away. You can look around public spaces, like cafes, for passwords to be posted, or ask a neighbor if you can use their Wi-Fi network for a bit. The important thing is to remember to use your scanner and keep your eyes peeled.
Use Facebook "Find Wifi"
Open the Facebook app, which you're sure to have already downloaded, tap the More tab and open up "Find WiFi" with your iPhone or Android device. This feature will help you find nearby sources of free, public Wi-Fi. Choose from a list of businesses in your area, and see the opening hours alongside the network names. Not all businesses have opted-in to have their networks listed yet, but the Facebook Find Wifi feature is very useful already.
Wi-fi Network Hack The Open Network
In the early days of WiFi, almost all networks were open networks—which meant any wireless device could connect to them. This was quite convenient, as no set up is required to connect to an open network so you could share your internet connection if required. Many routers even today come setup by default as open networks, so unless your neighbor has changed his settings, you may be able to immediately connect to his network. We might not want to hack into the neighbors internet, but sometimes it is there for the taking.
The only thing preventing someone from connecting to an open network is range—WiFi routers typically have a range of only a few hundred feet (or less if too many walls are involved), so connecting to your neighbor’s network may be difficult in rural areas or some suburban areas when homes are far apart.
However, WiFi hackers (sometimes called war-drivers) have long used directional antennas and signal amplifiers to overcome typical range limitations. Although a consumer laptop and a consumer WiFi router have a maximum expected range of about 1,500 feet (500 meters), hackers can use special (but inexpensive) equipment to connect to networks up to 20 miles (30 kilometers) away. So even if you live in the wilds of Alaska, your neighbor might be able to hack your open WiFi network.
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