Picture this: You’re settling into a cozy corner of your favorite local café. The aroma of roasted espresso fills the air, and you're ready to tackle your inbox. You pop open your laptop, connect to the local public hotspot, and dive into work.

The flexibility of working anytime and anywhere is incredibly tempting, but relying on free, public wireless networks can be exceptionally dangerous. While it might seem paranoid, it is easier than ever to stumble into a security nightmare when using public Wi-Fi.