Figures released by The Cloud, the Wifi operator owned by BSkyB, bear out the sense that public hotspots have rapidly become an important way for many of us to get online.

According to analysts, nine out of 10 tablets sold in the United States are Wifi-only and there is no evidence to suggest the British market is significantly different. However for most of the hundreds of thousands of new British tablet owners this week, public Wifi is not the only option if they want to use their new gadget in the wild.

Security Threat – MiFi not WiFi

Overall, there isn’t a whole lot of differences between MiFi and WiFi. Basically, a MiFi device is a portable WiFi device that allows you to have wireless access from anywhere. You can plug in different devices (iPod, iPad, laptop, tablet etc) to create your own network. To break it down, Mifi is really just “My WiFi,” in other words, your own personal WiFi device, which you can use yourself and transmit to other devices within range.

A big difference between bringing your own MiFi device and simply logging on to a WiFi system is the security. MiFi devices use airborne network coverage, as opposed to the public WiFi signals that are shared with everyone. Public WiFi signals present a security risk, because hackers and identity thieves often use them to extract private information from other users in the network. With MiFi, your network is your own, and nobody accesses it without your permission.

If you’re travelling we’d strongly recommend using a MiFi device with a data SIM card. For several reasons:

• Cost savings. Data from just £0.01/MB
• Convenience. Connecting to local WiFi spots can be a hassle.
• Security. Is it really worth jeopardizing for the sake of “FREE” WiFi?!

Fortunately our sister company www.dataroam.co.uk offer a range of data SIM cards and MiFi devices to suit your global travel needs.