How to Configure Computer Settings to Connect to Wi-Fi Internet

Access the Internet safely on the road by using a Wi-Fi connection on your computer. Using a Wi-Fi Internet connection, you can browse the Internet and handle your online errands more safely than with a less secure wireless Internet connection. Not all wireless connections are Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is a standard of wireless electronics that promise a heightened level of security and user-friendlyness.

With the right computer hardware and a Wi-Fi connection, configuring your laptop computer to receive Wi-Fi can be done on your own. Using a Wi-Fi connection is more secure than using most non-Wi-Fi Internet connections.

To do this, you have to have a computer with a wireless internet card that is setup for Wi-Fi and have access to a Wi-Fi internet connection that you are authorized to receive.

Step 1

Install your wireless Internet card. Wi-Fi cards can be internal cards, or they can connect to your computer through a USB connector. Connect the wireless card to your computer as directed by the manufacturer's instructions. If the Wi-Fi card is not automatically detected, you may also need to install the Wi-Fi card driver from the software disk that came with the Wi-Fi card.

Step 2

Configure your wireless card to receive Wi-Fi on your computer. Open the Wi-Fi setup program for your wireless Internet card and select a connection. On Windows XP, select the Control Panel under the Start menu. Choose "Network Connections," then "Wireless Network Connection." Select "View Wireless Networks" to see the list of available wireless connections. Select a connection and click "Connect".

Step 3

Access the Wi-Fi network from which you will receive a signal. You may need to enter a password to access some Wi-Fi networks; if your Wi-Fi internet connection asks you for a security password, check with the owner of the wireless connection to find out the password.

Step 4

Open your browser and navigate to a reliable webpage to test the Wi-Fi connection. If the connection seems down, try loading more than one site. Sometimes, you may find that you are receiving Wi-Fi internet on your computer, but the webpage you have loaded is temporarily down.Warning

Some wireless connections that are not Wi-Fi can come with an increased risk of having your data intercepted. When connecting to a new connection to transmit sensitive data like personal or financial information, make sure it is Wi-Fi.

A correctly configured wireless signal can be as safe as a Wi-Fi signal, but it must be setup properly. Though Wi-Fi is not necessarily always safer, it is likely to be more safe than a non-Wi-Fi connection.

Reference

University of Miami: Wi-Fi Basics
University of North Carolina: Wi-Fi Setup
Wi-Fi Alliance: Discover and Learn