Wireless Internet connections travel over the air as they are radio signals.

There are several tools that hackers can use such as Firesheep that easily allow them to see what everyone is doing on an unsecured network. While many of us could care less if someone saw what restaurants we were browsing on Yelp or stories we were reading at CNN.com, we don't want to give away our passwords or identifiable information.

Use HTTPS

Using a URL (Internet address) that starts with 'https' is one way to protect your information. It provides a layer of encryption when you log in. You've probably noticed that your bank's website uses an HTTPS address. Your browser's address bar will often have a little lock symbol and may turn green when you are logged on securely.

Not every site offers HTTPS, but you can test to see if it is available by simply entering an 's' after' http' in a site's address. Currently, Facebook, Twitter and Google all allow for HTTPS log in, but you need to update your account at each of these sites to require only secure log-ins.

One problem with using an HTTPS login is that many sites will then go back to an unencrypted HTTP connection after you provide your username and password  which would allow 'sniffing' of cookies that may identify you. Banks generally will keep you in an encrypted connection throughout your log-in but other less secure sites might secure your connection at only the log-in page.

Of course, you can always just avoid using unsecured wireless connections. You can pay the hefty cost of a portable Internet connection from your wireless carrier to be truly secure. Or you can use a VPN (virtual private network) service such as OpenVPN which is free for the first 100MB but fees go up from there. There is an extension you can add to Firefox that defaults to any site's HTTPS service if available.

Don't Forget

The most important thing to remember is that when you are on a public WiFi connection is that you are in the public. Imagine that everything you type into your computer is likely to be as available to others as if you said it out loud. HTTPS allows you to at least be able to press the mute button.