Hotspots are wireless Internet access points in public and private areas such as libraries, hospitals, airports, cafés and hotels. They mainly use protocols of the IEEE 802.11 family, also known as WiFi or WLAN, which enables a versatile connection with mobile devices.
Hotspots represent physical locations where people can access the internet wirelessly via WLAN. Some offer free access to open networks, while others charge a fee. Security measures are important to keep hackers out. Trusted hotspots should be preferred and care should be taken with misspelled names as hackers often use innocent sounding names. Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for an encrypted internet connection can provide additional protection.
The main purpose of a hotspot is to provide users with wireless internet access. This is done using Wireless access points and an interface to the Internet via a router. Login is via a captive portal with codes or passwords, and access is time-limited to ensure security.