From Dec 1, the Tokyo Metro subway lines and Tokyo metropolitan government’s Bureau of Transportation began providing free Wi-Fi connections at 143 stations. Similar free connections are already being offered at Tokyo’s two international airports, as well as certain fast food outlets and coffee shop chains.
Along with greater access to certain bank ATMs for foreign cardholders, this development is sure to be welcomed by visitors from abroad, not to mention Japanese users. After all, what could possibly be bad about ubiquitous communications that don’t hit the user with a big bill?
Well, for one thing, reports Nikkan Gendai (Dec 10), the security of such connections is something less than ironclad. A professor at Kobe University noted on his blog that the Wi-Fi provided at Narita Airport, to name one example, is not encoded, so mails can be intercepted in transit and read by third parties.
I – Word Understanding
ubiquitous – being everywhere
less than ironclad – not too strong
II – Have Your Say
A -Using a free public Wi-Fi can be dangerous at times So, it is always a good idea to take a proper precaution before moving into a free public Wi-Fi. Here are few easy steps to remain safe:
1.Do Not Perform Banking Operations on Public Wi-Fi
2. Have the Latest Versions of the the security software installed in your gadget
3. Do Not Store Passwords
4. Turn File Sharing Off
5. Use VPN
6.Select the Right Network
B – Did you know?
In 2003, Niue became the world’s first “WiFi nation”, where free wireless Internet access is provided throughout the country by The Internet Users Society-Niue.
