Computerworld cites security firm Authentium as having found dozens of "free," ad-hoc wireless networks of this sort at airports across the U.S. The firm told Computerworld that in multiple visits to O'Hare, they found over 20 ad-hoc networks advertising free service each time, and saw "fake or misleading" MAC addresses, the numbers designed to identify each Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter uniquely.

The article offers specific advice on how to avoid this problem. The most prominent in my mind? Use a VPN. Several firms offer VPN-for-hire for travelers who don't work for companies that offer or require VPN use on the road. Try JiWire's Hotspot Helper (Windows only, $25/year) or WiTopia.net's personalVPN (Windows/Mac, $40/year), for instance.

(Disclosure: I have a very small stake in JiWire.)

Read more at: http://wifinetnews.com/archives/007367.html.