Tech moves fast! Stay ahead of the curve with Techopedia!
Join nearly 200,000 subscribers who receive actionable tech insights from Techopedia.
A hotspot is a specific location that provides Internet access via a wireless local area network (WLAN). The term is generally synonymous with a Wi-Fi connection. A network that creates a hotspot primarily includes a modem and wireless router. The radio frequency (RF) waves sent by the wireless network extend in different directions from its centralized location. These signals become weaker as they travel, either further from the central location or due to interference.
There are two types of hotspots:
Hotspots provide convenience to millions of Internet users, but they are rife with security issues. For example, free public hotspots are often the target of hackers and identity thieves. The attackers create rogue or fake hotspots that look identical to legitimate hotspots. If users unknowingly connect to these rogue access points and use their sensitive data for login or a similar purpose, the attackers can then easily retrieve the sensitive data using different techniques.