These access Internet all through radio waves. PCs were capable to utilize wireless technology since 1990s. It started with broadband connection that permitted PCs to access internet at quicker speeds and the modem speed at that time was 56 kilobytes. But, using a wireless connection permitted PCs to access and download material from internet at 100 million bits per second.

Computer Requirements

1. Many companies make PCs with built in wireless cards. To obtain wireless access for a Macintosh or PCs you must have wireless network card that falls below 802.11 standards.

Adapter Card

2. If PC does not come with an integral wireless network card, one can be installed. Wireless adapter cards come in various sizes and shapes for PCs, so read instruction book. There are 3 types of adapter cards. They are PCI for desktop PC, USB for a PC that have a USB port and PC card that fits in a notebook PC slot.

Connecting to a WIFI Network

3. This can be access free or pay a fee through an ISP. To access you must find a hotspot, which give free connection through a library, school or business. To check PC for a hotspot in XP, go to Start Menu and choose "Connect To," then select wireless networks. PC network will search for wireless service in area. A list of wireless connections will pop up in a screen. If a wireless connection does not have a lock beside the icon, then it is a free connection. To check for free wireless connection on a Macintosh PC go to System Preference then Network to allow Airport Extreme. If you choose "Default" to connect any group, a search will take place mechanically for a wireless connection.

To establish a wireless network for home use, you want a broadband modem from an ISP, a router that makes wireless connection and a PC with a wireless network interface card.

You can also attach to a wireless network without a router using an Ad Hoc network. This network has a walkie-talkie facet where PCs share similar network through sharing. The problem to this feature is host PC not getting wireless connection or the host PC is turned off. PC on shared network will be unable to obtain wireless connection.

Benefits

4. A wireless PC permits to attach to Internet without using wires, which makes it simple to move freely. Wireless connections are quicker than dial-up connections. Wireless PCs download information at quicker speeds and permit video streaming.

Preventing Intruders

5. While, wireless PCs permit access to internet at high speeds and there is no wiring involved, information is sent back and forth to a PC through radio waves. That could make PC susceptible to intruders.

As radio waves have no limits hackers can access private information and take over PC. Setup a firewall to keep PC safe form hackers.

There are 3 firewall safety measures that can be utilized to avoid a hacker from gaining access to PC. They are Wireless Equivalent Privacy, WIFI Protection Access and WPA2. WEP was first firewall security system utilized for wireless connection. WEP utilizes 64 bit and 128 bits secret keys to send data to wireless stations that are continuously reused. When PC stations send keys to an access point it is insecure. Some people think WEP firewall insecure.

If WEP is the only defense for your wireless PC, it is best to always reset keys. The keys have to be reset by you.

The other choice to shield PC is WIFI Protected Access. WPA resets keys always they attach to an access point and has a message reliability code that matches packet frames. WPA2 has a stronger safety system than WPA. WPA2 utilizes 802.11i standard where validity is utilized to test MAC addresses, resetting keys and deleting data.