Computer Users Cautioned About "Wi-Fi" Access
Feb. 25, 2005

In the world of computer technoloy, seems like there's another development every week! Now, there's something everybody wants. But it could give strangers complete access to your files.

It's called "WI-FI", short for wireless fidelity. In simple terms, it allows us to connect to the internet without all the wires and cables. WI-FI set-ups are common in airports and hotels, no need to plug into a phone jack anymore, just open up your laptop and you're surfing the net and checking e-mail. And, now people are putting WI-Fi in their homes.

James Nester and I are walking down a sidewalk in a Sandy residential area with a laptop, looking for a free internet connection. And, we're having NO trouble finding one! Each of those beeps you hear, tells us that we've picked up another WI-FI signal in this apartment complex.

James "Trogdor" Nestor/System Admin. PC Laptops: "NOW THIS IS ALL RIGHT HERE, PROBABLY IN THIS BUILDING? NESTOR: POSSIBLY IN THIS BUILDING, IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE IN A BUILDING DOWN THERE WITH A STRAIGHT LINE OF SITE HERE."

50-feet later we had a lot of internet connections to choose from! Walk into just about any computer store right now, and you'll find Wi-fi equipment for sale. Newer laptops are already pre-wired; or you can buy the wireless modems to hook your system to. Retailers say everyone wants to connect.

Mike Fuller /Exec. V.P., PC Laptops: "THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO WALK AROUND, WHETHER IT'S WALK AROUND YOUR HOME AND BE ABLE TO SIT IN THE LAWNCHAIR IN THE BACKYARD AND SURF THE INTERNET, OR WALK FROM ONE OFFICE TO ANOTHER IN YOUR BUILDING IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS NOW."

The wireless modems have an antenna which broadcasts a signal on a radio frequency. The signal goes out about 200-300 feet, enough to cover the area of your house. But, those radio signals don't stop at your front door, they can transmit out to the street; or a few houses away. Free downloadable software can locate the signals, as James and I are doing here. OK, someone is using your wireless signal to surf the net. So? If they know what they're doing, an experienced computer whiz can see what else is on your computer!

MIke Fuller: "IT'S HONESTLY NOT A DIFFICULT THING. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS CLICKING ON THE C-DRIVE, AND WHATEVER WAS ON YOUR COMPUTER IS NOW ON THEIR COMPUTER AND THEY HAVE FULL ACCESS TO IT."

Bank accounts; home budget info; e-mail address books. A malicious person could also put viruses and spyware on your system too. It's as easy as driving down the street, we had dozens of unsecured internet connections at our fingertips. And, as weird as this looks, here we are, in a parking lot, laptop on the hood of the vehicle, logging on to ksl.com, using someone ELSE'S system!

"AND BOOM THERE WE ARE ON KSL.COM, AND WE CAN NOW SURF THE INTERNET? AS LONG AS WE WANT ABSOLUTELY. Q-IT'S THAT EASY? IT'S THAT EASY! "

But, you can make it less easy for people to log onto your system. What you have to do is activate the security features on your wireless modems. Most people just take the modems out of the box, and hook them up. But in the manual, it tells how you can make your system secure, and keep people out. Computer stores can also help you out too.