Hotel (Wireless or Ethernet)

This page contains information about accessing the Internet from a hotel using high-speed network access.

Scenario: High-speed access from a hotel

Many hotels offer high-speed network access to their customers and guests; however, it isn't always free, and it isn't always well-secured. Here are some of the ways to determine what access you can receive, how much it may cost, and how to keep your computer secure on what may be an open-access network.

Getting connected to the wireless network

If you're in an area where more than one wireless network is available, you may need to select which one to connect to. Just as UIUCnet Wireless has a distinct network name and particular configuration instructions for connecting, hotel networks will also have distinct names and configuration requirements.

Questions to ask the hotel staff:

The hotel network may require DHCP (which is an automatic way to assign network addresses), or you may need to use a specific IP address that the hotel assigns you. For more information about configuring DHCP and SSIDs, see Configuring your computer to work in a temporary location .

In some hotels, you may simply be able to start your laptop, open a browser window, and immediately use the strongest available wireless network. A hotel with an open wireless network won't charge you for your wireless use since they aren't monitoring it. However, because the network is so open to access, you should take extra security precautions to protect your computer and data, as described under Security below.

Getting connected to an Ethernet network

In rooms with Ethernet jacks, it's more difficult to tell at a glance whether there will be a fee for use if you plug your computer in and it begins networking automatically. Since an Ethernet jack is in a specific location (typically your room), it's simple for the hotel to determine which room should be charged for the network use, and you may find fees added to your bill at checkout.

If you are presented with a login screen when you're connected to an Ethernet jack in a hotel, the same user identity may be valid for both Ethernet and wireless networks -- or it may not.

Questions to ask the hotel staff:

As with wireless networks, the hotel network may require DHCP, or you may need to use a specific IP address that the hotel assigns you. For more information about configuring DHCP and SSIDs, see Configuring your computer to work in a temporary location.

Security

Remember that the easier it is for you to connect to a network, the easier it is for everyone else to connect to the network, too -- and, possibly, from there to any unprotected shared folders on your computer. In addition, open wireless networks don't typically have any way to block users who are infected with viruses from spreading those viruses to others.

Wireless is automatically less secure than Ethernet, and open-access wireless is less secure still. Therefore, you should make sure to take extra precautions to protect your computer when you're sharing a hotel's open-access network.

Having a personal firewall installed on your computer is particularly important when you're working on open, unsecured wireless networks. It prevents other wireless network users from being able to access your computer's hard drive.

Most modern operating systems offer built-in firewalls that are easy to enable and use. For more information, see Personal Firewalls.

It's always important to keep your system patched and up to date. See the security scenario on Laptop Security for more information on the University's antivirus and anti-spyware software, available at no charge to campus users.

As a campus user, you can connect to the campus VPN from anywhere in the world in order to improve your networking privacy over unfamiliar wireless or Ethernet networks. For more information, see VPN for Wireless Users and the Wireless security scenario.

For additional information, including ways to physically protect your laptop during travel, see the security scenario on Traveling with a Laptop.