What is Wi-Fi | Definition and Meaning | U.S. News – U.S. News & World Report

Wi-Fi is a wireless technology that allows cell phones, computers, tablets, and other electronic devices to connect to the internet. Just about everyone uses Wi-Fi, whether they know it or not. This technology has helped create a more connected world where people can access the internet wirelessly from public or private hotspots. Wi-Fi also connects many devices in the so-called “internet of things” – internet-enabled gadgets like your TV, refrigerator, babycam and a lot more. Read our guide for more about what Wi-Fi is and what it does.

Wi-Fi isn’t an acronym and doesn’t stand for anything. Many people think Wi-Fi is a short form of “Wireless Fidelity,” but it’s a bit more complicated than that. The term cropped up in 1999 as a more user-friendly way of describing the wireless standard IEEE 802.11 by a marketing firm sometimes referred to as the Wireless Fidelity Alliance. This association stuck, and this term is now a trademark of the nonprofit Wi-Fi Alliance.

Like all wireless communications, Wi-Fi uses radio waves and delivers packets of data over a frequency between 2.4 and 5 gigahertz. It does this using a device called a router that acts as an internet access point for other devices, like a laptop, tablet, or cell phone.

Wi-Fi was first released to the public in 1997 when a committee with the catchy name 802.11 was created. But the underlying technology dates back to World War II and the actress Hedy Lamarr – also a self-taught inventor – who developed a method for communicating with a system that constantly changed frequencies to avoid detection. A key Wi-Fi patent was developed by Australian astronomers seeking to maintain high data speeds for radio waves without signal loss.

The original Wi-Fi known as 802.11 allowed for transmission speeds of 2 megabits per second (Mbps) on the 2.4 GHz band. This was upgraded over the years with new protocols with different letters – 802.11a, 802.11g, etc. The Wi-Fi Alliance later began using the terms Wi-Fi 4 and 5. The latest standard Wi-Fi 6 launched in 2019 with speeds up to 9,600 Mbps.

To set up a wireless network at home, you will need an internet subscription and a router that connects to your internet service provider’s modem via an Ethernet cable. Your internet speed will depend mostly on your internet plan, but your equipment plays a role as well. In particular, your internet speed over Wi-Fi will partially depend on the Wi-Fi standard your router uses. The newest and fastest routers will be labeled for Wi-Fi 6 and allow for higher speeds and more streaming. This can smooth out your connections for gaming and streaming in 4k or 8k. It can improve your experience in a connected home with multiple smart devices or security systems.

Wi-Fi is also available when you’re on the move. There are more than half a million Wi-Fi hotspots globally in public buildings, coffee shops, schools and other locations, many of which are free. These will vary in terms of speed and access, but they do raise questions about security. (More on that below.)

“Wi-Fi is nearly ubiquitous because it’s so easy to include in the semiconductors that power the devices we use every day,” said David Witkowski, a senior member of IEEE, the organization that developed Wi-Fi. “Adding Wi-Fi to everything from laptops to lightbulbs requires almost no design effort, so we see it in almost everything.”

A Wi-Fi network is a wireless network that allows you to connect to the internet on your laptop, tablet, or other device.

If you have broadband internet, it’s easy to set up a wireless network at home without the wired Ethernet connection that many people are familiar with. You will need a wireless router – look for the most recent model with the fastest speeds – which plugs into your modem, and that’s pretty much it. You will also need to create a name and password via your router settings so you can connect your laptop and other devices. This also enables you to connect smart devices, such as speakers, appliances, lighting, and home security devices, to your wireless network.

Hackers can intercept unencrypted signals over a public Wi-Fi network or possibly break into your home network if you’re lax on security.

“Like any computing system, there are inherent risks in something like Wi-Fi,” says Joseph Lorenzo Hall, who recommends routers and systems with automatic security updates. “However, the risks are relatively small for most people, and private Wi-Fi networks become less risky all the time” as security standards improve, he added.

Public Wi-Fi networks are a different story, because many of them aren’t secure. Experts thus

recommend taking precautions when using public Wi-Fi. These include using a virtual private network (VPN) and not disclosing sensitive personal information, like credit card numbers. In some parts of the world, governments may limit what you can view on the internet, although a VPN may help you circumvent these restrictions.

Here are some ways to increase security when you use a Wi-Fi network.

A VPN can be useful on your home network as well as on public Wi-Fi. It creates an encrypted tunnel so that outsiders – including your internet provider – can’t spy on your online activities or collect data that could be handed over to advertisers or governments.

Your router is likely to come with a standard default password, and it’s important to change this to a strong password. A password manager will help you do this easily. If you don’t, it’s like leaving your keys under the doormat. “The starting point is a strong password that’s not shared across a variety of platforms,” says John Dickson, an independent security researcher and former executive at Coalfire.

Antivirus software is another critical element of home network security. This software scans incoming traffic and blocks malware, intrusions, and other attempts to steal your data or passwords, which can defeat your other security measures.

Continuously apply software updates for all your devices, and don’t forget your router. These have firmware updates that will improve functionality and security. “If there’s an option for automatic updates, do it, because most people won’t remember,” Dickson says. “That way if there’s a flaw it gets updated behind the scenes.”

Be aware of the settings for your network. If your devices allow it, use the strongest encryption standard, WPA3, which has the latest security updates and is hardest to crack. You can also take simple steps, such as turning off remote access, turning off your network when you’re away or not using it, and keeping some devices on guest access.

You know the name of your network, but you don’t need to let malicious actors know. You can change this to a jumbled or unidentifiable name or make your network “hidden” so that it’s not visible nearby.

“Know who’s using your network,” Witkowski says. “If possible, enable new client notifications on your gateway, and disable any clients you don’t recognize.” He suggests creating a guest network, which can’t be used to access or modify your own settings or data, for people who aren’t members of your household and for other devices, like light bulbs or garage door openers.

Wireless security cameras use your Wi-Fi network and allow you to monitor your home through a connected device, often from your phone. The wireless part refers to the data transmission, since the cameras may require wires for power.

A Wi-Fi security system can include cameras, motion detection sensors, and other wireless devices. Wireless technologies such as Zigbee may be used to connect these devices to a smart hub, which links to your Wi-Fi router to allow you to monitor your home.

A wireless router is a piece of hardware that serves as an internet access point and connects other devices such as your laptop, phone, or tablet. You can connect devices to a router over Wi-Fi or, in some cases, with an Ethernet cable.

Your computer and other devices connect to Wi-Fi using radio waves. Each of your devices has a wireless adaptor that converts data into radio signals, which are decoded by your router.

A wireless access point is usually a component of your router, but it may also be a standalone device that enables a wireless network. The access point then connects to the broader internet, usually through a wired or Ethernet connection.

If you don’t have access to public Wi-Fi, you may be able to use your phone or a standalone device as a portable hotspot. Your device connects to the hotspot using Wi-Fi, and the hotspot connects to the network using a cellular signal. Note that this requires a data plan from an internet service provider.

A Wi-Fi booster is an antenna-like device that amplifies your router’s Wi-Fi signal. This can help in large homes or other areas where Wi-Fi is impeded by walls or signal interference.

A Wi-Fi extender serves the same basic function as a Wi-Fi booster, amplifying your signal to give you better coverage. But an extender is a separate device installed between your devices and your router, while a booster is a type of antenna attached to your router.

A mesh network includes two or more routers that work together in a single network, providing more even coverage. This gives you multiple nodes of connectivity and signal overlap in case one of the points goes down. Because the nodes are connected to each other as well as to your access point, this can often give you more even coverage in a large home or office.

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