Get connected

As our world continues to get smaller and smaller, the technology needed to help us keep pace with our shrinking space has gotten more cosmic. Before when on vacation, keeping in touch with family, friends, or especially the office, was a challenge.

Now, all you need is a laptop computer and a WiFi connection.

WiFi? Wireless Fidelity – a computer technology first introduced in 1997 that allows wireless Internet connections in places like airports, shopping centers, restaurants and libraries.

More and more hotspots are popping up, giving computer users more options as to where they can connect to the Internet. In some cases, there is a fee for these connections, or if the hotspot is a coffeehouse or other restaurant, a purchase is necessary.

Some businesses have opened their WiFi access to customers free of charge. On the Emerald Coast, there are free 802.11b connections available at these locations:

Destin/Sandestin

• Destin Commons – 4300 Legendary Drive, Destin
• Barnes and Noble Bookseller – 34904 Emerald Coast Parkway (Highway 98), Destin
• Mellow Mushroom – 960 Highway 98, Destin
• Bad Ass Coffee Co. – 1708 Scenic Gulf Drive (old Highway 98), Miramar Beach
• Amavida Coffee – 4281 County Road 30A, Santa Rosa Beach

Fort Walton Beach

• Paper Moon Bar & Social Club – 196 Miracle Strip Parkway, SE
• Jin Jin Chinese Restaurant – 550 Mary Esther Cutoff NW

Panama City

• Coffee Bean Queens – 21301 Panama City Beach Parkway
• Joey’s Java Juice – 9722 Front Beach Road
• Flamingo Joe’s Grill & Seafood – 2304 Thomas Drive
• Econo Lodge – 4411 W. Highway 98
• Taco Bell – 4020 W. 23rd St.
• Schlotzsky’s Deli – 4127 W Highway 98

Other locations:

• Econo Lodge – 3101 S. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview
• Austin’s Auto Accessories & U-haul Rentals – 4459 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze
• Moe’s Southwest Grill – 3733 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze

When using these public WiFi connections it is important to still take a few precautions:

• Look for signs designating the location as a legitimate provider
• Install firewall software to protect against viruses, worms and hackers
• Avoid making financial transactions in public places – don’t use Social Security or credit cards numbers, or access bank accounts
• Turn off WiFi capabilities, and computer network, when not in use
• Disable file and printer sharing features
• Don’t set WiFi cards to accept automatic connections
• Set files to private
• Change the service set identifier (SSID) to lessen the risk of hacking – use passwords that are difficult to decipher, using letters and numbers
• If your wireless adaptors support it, enable WiFi Protected Access (WPA) or Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption
• Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
• Consider increasing security settings on e-mail operating systems such as Mircosoft Outlook and Internet Explorer
• Be aware of the surroundings and who is nearby, never leave a computer unattended
• Invest in a privacy screen