Free wireless internet access at McDonalds

Tao81

So what's the maximum distance you can be from a wi-fi hotspot to be able to use it successfully - we have a Morrisons car park right beside our local McD's, does this mean by the end of the year we'll start having trouble finding a parking space to do our weekly shop then?!!!!

albertross_2

Depends on the setup, but 50-100metres or so usually.

Using free unencrypted wifi sounds great, until you think about the potential security consequences you are exposing yourself to.

Tao81

albertross wrote: »

Depends on the setup, but 50-100metres or so usually.

Using free unencrypted wifi sounds great, until you think about the potential security consequences you are exposing yourself to.

Yeah, excellent point Albertross :shocked:

Scrooge11_2

Yes:jhappy to report that Skype works when outside Macdonalds so you don't have to buy crappy burgers to justify the use of the WiFi.
In early 2007 I was sat in my car with Laptop on talking to a friend in the UK from car park of MacD in Luxembourg as they had Free WiFi before UK.
If your battery in Laptop gets low then get a 12Vdc to 240V Inverter and keep going while running the car engine!!! :T

Encryption or lack of it has not been a problem so long as YOUR Laptop is set up with suitable security software and correctly.

shandypants5

albertross wrote: »

Depends on the setup, but 50-100metres or so usually.

Using free unencrypted wifi sounds great, until you think about the potential security consequences you are exposing yourself to.

Can you expand on ths a little Albertross.?
What can anyone else see, that they cant see on my home wireless?
My home wireless is encrypted btw.. but I thought that was just to stop other people using it for free. .

Please Type the answer slowly and assume I know nothing....about anything...

System

May be worth a mention. Recently out of curiosity, I googled "free wifi hotspots in ..........." and listed a town. Up came the known free access points in the town. Loadsa places I wouldn't have thought of. Try it for your town and see what comes up.

albertross_2

They can potentially see every webpage you visit (apart from https), every email you read, every messenger conversation etc. Encryption scrambles this info. if you have no personal firewall on the pc, and file and printer sharing setup, then they could also potentially get at your files.

don9999

I just tried to connect to the internet outside my local McDonalds restaurant.

My laptop seemed to find the wireless connection, but stated that it had security enabled. I clicked on the connection but it requested a wireless security password!

I thought that McDonalds were providing free, un-encypted wireless connection.

Or do you have to collect a password when ordering some food?

I didn't pop in this time, but will probably do so tomorrow, on my way home.

Cheers,
Don

Shaun_d123

All the ones I have been to have been unsecured and you havent needed a password.

Once connected you should be able to open your internet browser and click on the free McDonalds access icon.

You then have to enter a few personal details and away you go

Are you sure you were connected to the correct Wi-Fi hotspot for free access. Were there other connections available ?

Bean_Counter

Watch you don't trip and spill your coffee on someone's expensive laptop!