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Down to the Wire

Our guide to WiFi access in the Richmond area

Down to the Wire

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Molly Seltzer
Richmond.com
Tuesday, July 19, 2005

WiFi. Launched in 2000, it's the coolest slang word since "tubular," a major step in the all-American quest for efficiency and the cause for one man's recent arrest.

WiFi, which stands for Wireless Fidelity, allows Internet users to access the web from any location, provided that area is linked to the nationwide WiFi network. Wireless networks make it possible for multiple computers under the same roof – in your home or a restaurant - to hook up to the Internet simultaneously, which, if you're not careful, could include cheap neighbors or sneaky strangers. This past April, Florida resident Benjamin Smith was arrested on charges of unauthorized access to a computer network via WiFi, and he wasn't even stealing anything. He was just a simple man sitting in his van, "stealing" WiFi outside of someone else's house. Creepy.

If your WiFi network isn't adequately shielded through encryption or passwords, anyone with a wireless card can view your personal information, credit card information and even send emails from your account. Though stealing WiFi is a third-degree felony, it is practiced on a regular basis.

Avoid formal charges by taking advantage of the many consumer-friendly restaurants and venues that are hooking up to a wireless network to allow their customers the convenience of the Internet anytime they want. Who wouldn't want to browse online boutiques while sipping a cup of joe at your favorite coffee shop, or keep track of box scores while enjoying group yoga in the local park?

Once you've put in a few passwords and sufficiently protected your computer, take the old laptop into the warm summer air and enjoy some surfing – the water-free (and legal) kind. Here is a list of local areas that offer WiFi access.

  • Café Gutenberg
    1700 East Main Street
    ((804) 497-5000

  • C3 Creative Change Center
    1801 East Cary Street, Third Floor
    (804) 474-3639

  • Monroe Park
    Fan District
    (804) 254-2928

  • World Cup
    26 North Morris Street
    (804) 359-5282

  • Baja Bean
    1520 West Main Street
    (804)257-5445

  • Baker's Crust
    3553 West Cary Street
    (804) 213-0800

  • Mars Bar
    115 North 18th Street
    (804) 644-MARS

  • McDonald's (in Carytown)
    3410 West Cary Street
    (804) 355-4123

  • Shockoe Espresso and Roastery
    104 Shockoe Slip
    (804) 648-3734

  • Stir Crazy Coffee Shop
    4015 MacArthur Avenue
    (804) 864-0204

  • Stony Point Fashion Park
    9200 Stony Point Parkway
    (804) 560-SHOP

  • Panera Bread
    4701 Brad McNeer Parkway
    11649 Midlothian Turnpike
    11703 West Broad Street
    9200 Stony Point Parkway
    (804) 560-9700

  • Virginia Commonwealth University
    Fan District
    (804) 828-0100

  • University of Richmond
    28 Westhampton Way
    (804) 289-8000

  • Starbucks
    Any of the 17 Richmond-area locations
    (800) 782-7282

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