Wi-Fi may sound like something from the latest blockbuster Hollywood sci-fi movie, but most people with a computer in their home have heard of, and are using, Wireless Networks.

GNER provides Wi-Fi access on its trains, giving passengers the ability to use their travelling time to surf the net and send and receive e-mails.

Hotels and coffee shops are also offering Wi-Fi hotspots for customers to access systems remotely.

The advantages of Wi-Fi are obvious, both in the home and at work.

At home, you can move to a quiet part of the house away from the kids and catch up on your e-mails or surf the net to your heart's content.

At work, it can have many advantages. There is no need for wiring and if the business grows, the technology can be expanded by simply purchasing another laptop and Wi-Fi adapter.

Listening to conversations at the office and among friends, we do need to be thinking a little smarter.

From the security point of view, we need to make sure that our wireless network can only be accessed by us.

An example of this happened the other day as I used my laptop in the office and plugged in my Wi-Fi adapter - within a short period of time, I found four wireless networks in the same building as me.

Luckily, I knew the people and informed them of their lack of security - but two weeks later, only two of them have put security on their network.

Some have decided to purchase a single Internet account and share the access and costs.

In fact, I have heard of enterprising neighbours starting an Internet club with one account and several neighbours paying a small monthly fee to access the "Streets" Wi-Fi network.

It will not be long before the whole of Britain has Wi-Fi coverage, but we must make sure we are getting value from it and, most importantly, that we make it secure.

* Michael McMeekin is managing director of Wisdom IT. Log on to www.wisdomit.co.uk

Published: 01/11/2005