It's public so to say and anyone can pick it up inadvertently if they think it's a public hotspot or something.

If you can try your laptop at a public hotspot and it doesn't drop the connection, that would point to there being a router or broadband problem.

Moreover owners of public Wi-Fi hotspots are obliged to register user's passports before providing Internet access to them.

Wi-Fi has become the de facto standard for access in private homes, within offices, and at public hotspots.

Are there public hotspots?

The Douglas 3 was destroyed in October 2006 to make way for an urban park [1] which is also a public wireless hotspot.

My first impression was it's only a threat at public hotspots such as airports, Starbucks, et cetera.

Also one way to protect against this at a public hotspot, always use your VPN if you have one; right?

This is the option most public hotspots use, and it can be accessed by signing in with a password.

Now, we've got to be a little bit careful when we say "public hotspot."