WiFi

WiFi stands for wireless fidelity and is a wireless technology that allows you to connect to a local network and to the internet without running wires to your computer. WiFi can be used on almost any device, including video game systems, cell phones, and even PDA's. Other devices that are now capable of a wireless connection are Blu-ray DVD players and devices manufactured specifically for Video streaming from sites such as You-Tube and Netflix. http://www.wi-fi.org/search_products.php

A wireless network uses RF (radio frequency) energy to transmit information from one point to another. It is basically the same as television, radio, and cell phones just a different protocol for the modulated signal. http://computer.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network1.htm <ref> Basically a computers wireless adaptor modulates and RF frequency with the digital signal then broadcasts it into the air. A wireless router or access point receives the signal demodulates the digital information from the RF and transmits the signal into the network for reception by another computer or for translation via the internet gateway to the internet where it is transmitted through various nodes to the server at the destination IP address or website. <ref> http://computer.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network1.htm If the information is destined for the computer it is received from the network and then modulated onto the RF signal by the router and transmitted to be received by the computers adaptor and then demodulated and transferred into memory and thence displayed or stored on the computer’s hard drive. http://computer.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network1.htm

Security of WiFi networks continues to be an issue. With an unsecured network, outside users may access signals without any authorization. This allows unwanted users to use WiFi. With a secured network, unwanted users from the outside cannot gain access without knowing a specified network key and password. This also prevents people from using another person's WiFi connection for free. Most business networks attempt to prevent outside access to their networks in order to protect sensitive and important information. This makes networks a target for "hackers" who aim to access important information for their own unauthorized uses.

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