Jeff Beard at Law Tech Guru Blog has some good advice about watching out for fake wi-fi hotspots created by computer to computer ad hoc networks. Apparently this scheme is most commonly found at major airports. Jeff gives a great definition of these ad hoc networks as:

“Fake Wi-Fi hotspots and “man in the middle” attacks are nothing new. The key is that they are actually peer-to-peer or “ad hoc” wireless network connections — meaning that your laptop connects directly to someone else’s PC, not a wireless access point. That’s a major security no-no, as they can sniff your logins, passwords, and other confidential data you send through. They can also deposit some nasty items on your PC behind the scenes. Guess what happens when you connect to your company’s or firm’s network when you get back to the office?”

Jeff also points to a great article from Computerworld. In the article, the author provides instructions for users of both Windows XP and Vista on how to keep your computer from connecting to an ad hoc network.

JiWire.com has a great article on its 25 Wireless Tips & Tricks. JiWire is a great resource for all things Wi-Fi. In this article, they offer great tips on such things as:

• Finding hotspots while traveling
• Securing your home network
• Using a hotspot in a secure manner
• Keeping shared files safe
• Setting up a free hotspot
• Setting up an ad hoc network to share an internet connection
• Adding wireless network storage
• Monitoring your home with a wi-fi webcam

There are some great tips to be found in the article. I recommend it to anyone who uses a wireless network.

David Swanner of the South Carolina Trial Law Blog hits the nail on the head with his most recent post.

On the topic of how connected you should be to your clients, David says:

“On Friday afternoon, my wife who is about to have our second child was unexpectedly admitted to the hospital for testing. After the tests, but before the results were in she was reading a book and I logged in to the office network, checked e-mail, checked messages and answered a few questions. Before the age of technology, I would have had to leave either my wife or the office in the lurch. Wi-fi is a good thing.”

David then goes on to conclude, however, that we need not be connected to our clients at all times.

“When I travel, I call clients and check in on them. I sometimes call clients on Sunday afternoon to see how their treatment is doing and to make certain all of their questions have been answered. I appreciate my Treo, GoToMyPC and wireless internet. But I also think it’s important to set boundaries to have a personal and family life.”

As usual, excellent advice from David. Jump over to his blog and read the whole post.