eMachines 500 User Guide

31

learning more about wireless networking

A hot spot is a high-speed wireless Internet access point available in public 

locations such as airports, airline clubs, libraries, book shops, and coffee houses.

While you are away from your home office, hot spots let you send and receive 

emails, surf websites, or access your company’s network. 

You usually need to sign up to get access through hot spot connections. During 

the sign-up process, the vendor will provide you with the necessary connection 
information.

To access any new network, the steps are simple: just obtain information about 

the network (such as the SSID, password key, and security settings to use) and 
enter that information in the Windows XP Wireless Network Connection windows. 

See Chapter 3, “connecting to your new wireless network” for sample 

instructions.

❂

because hot spots typically do not enable any security measures, the data 

that you are sending and receiving may be vulnerable. 

❂

if any of the files on your notebook are marked for sharing, other users on the 

network may be able to access them.

If you want to access your company’s network through a 

hot spot, contact your network administrator for setup 

information. You will probably be routed through a VPN 
connection for maximum security.

720_wireless_booklet.book  Page 31  Wednesday, September 3, 2003  4:45 PM