Before you send personal information over your laptop or smartphone on a public wireless network in a coffee shop, library, airport, hotel, or other public place, see if your information will be protected. If you use an encrypted website, it protects only the information you send to and from that site. If you use a secure wireless network, all the information you send on that network is protected. Many establishments have Wi-Fi connectivity. Ask for the Wi-Fi password to find out if they allow the public to have access or not. If they do not allow public access, it is most likely for security purposes.