Dear Starbucks: The skinny on how you can be a security hero

The right question is this: why is public Wifi always synonymous with unencrypted WiFi? Encryption has been a basic component of WiFi technology since the first versions of 802.11 were approved. I wouldn’t suggest we go back to using WEP like we did in the early days, but even WEP is an improvement over nothing.

While Facebook and other companies should be providing us secure methods of connecting to their services, those companies kind enough to provide us with free internet access at cafes, airports and other public places are also part of the problem.

I propose standard adoption of WPA2 and a default password of free. Whenever you wish to connect to complimentary WiFi, you select Courtyard Marriott or Starbucks like you always have, but you are then prompted for a password.

Just type free. It’s not hard. In fact, operating system vendors could even program your PC to automatically try the password “free” before prompting you for a password on the assumption that you might be selecting a free service — via redwolf.newsvine.com