How do I find a Wi-Fi hotspot?

Our mobile expert says...

If you've got yourself a shiny new tablet but couldn’t quite afford a top of the range 3G model, then help is at hand from the huge network of mobile hotspots dotted around the country.

You can use these to get online while you're out and about in cafes, restaurants, hotels and train stations. But how do you find your closest, free hotspot?

Inclusive hotspot minutes

Many mobile providers offer inclusive Wi-Fi minutes to their customers in addition to the data allowance many people now have included in their contract.

So if you're an O2, Orange, T-Mobile or Vodafone customer you'll be able to get online at thousands of different hotspots up and down the country.

Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone have a deal with BT Openzone, while O2 customers get access to Openzone and The Cloud, which is now owned by Sky.

You also get access to BT’s Wi-Fi network if you're a BT home broadband customer. This means you can use the whole Openzone network as well as its Fon service of public, home Wi-Fi hotspots - making up a network of three million locations across the UK.

Find a hotspot

Your tablet, smartphone or laptop will automatically pick up signals from wireless networks - but how do you know which ones you can use and which ones are private?

IThere are a host of websites that let you enter your postcode to bring up a map of the nearest free, and paid-for hotspots. But there are also apps available that you can install on your iPad or smartphone to make each hotspot even easier to find. BT and Orange even have their own apps for all those people who get free access to the Openzone or BT Wi-Fi networks.

Make your own hotspot

Today’s smartphones let you do so much more than simply make calls and send texts. Delve beneath the layer of Facebook, games and camera apps and you'll find a host of great settings - often including the option to turn your phone into a hotspot.

This feature is available on many HTC handsets as well as iPhones and other smartphones - though you'll usually need to enable it in your settings. Bear in mind though that even if your phone has the physical capabilities to do this, your mobile provider might block this feature to stop you using too much data.

The ability to turn your phone into a hotspot is essentially internet tethering without having to physically connect your phone to another device.

O2 customers who recontract to selected 12-month plans now get the internet tethering Bolt-On thrown in for free, while Three’s One Plan offers this as standard.

A mobile Wi-Fi dongle might also be a good option. These work in the same way as a standard mobile broadband dongle but without the wires - so you can use one with your USB-free iPad - and can choose from a range of pay-as-you-go, pay monthly or rolling one-month contracts depending on your needs.

Hotspot security

One thing you do need to bear in mind if you're using a public Wi-Fi hotspot is security. “Because they do not encrypt data, your passwords, email messages, and other information can be visible to hackers,” says Microsoft. “That means it's up to you to be aware of wireless hotspot security and to protect the data on your PC or mobile device.”

While it offers a range of tips on how to protect your information when connected to a public hotspot, many of these are designed for the more technically minded. A good way to keep yourself safe is to only use trusted hotspots and avoid sensitive activities such as online banking or shopping - where you need to enter your personal and financial details - unless you're connected to your own, home broadband.

However, these issues don’t apply to mobile broadband - either from your phone or a dongle - because the signal is automatically encrypted making it a far safer option if you're concerned about security.