McDonalds offering free wirless connection

Gary and Kerry · Guru

McDonalds offering free wirless connection

Bridgee · Senior Member

Thanks for that G & K, but being Baby Boomers who are not too technically minded how does "wireless internet" work? I presume we bring our a laptop into Maccas and if so do we need a software program or any accessory to connect?

If the service is free I guess having to eat one of their burgers is a small price to pay!!

Gary and Kerry · Guru

Just need to get a USB WiFI dongle available on eBay for about $35.00 plug into your laptop and away you go.
When I am on the road (for work) I always have brekkie at Maaca's, 2 pieces of raison toast, large flat white $6.95, cheaper than brekkie in the motel.

Wombat 280 · Guru

It's white man magic no wires no nothing just play for hours

dave06 · Guru

if your laptop is a later model or an upmarket one then it probably has a wireless device thingy built in

brickies · Guru

Hi all is wifi safe has telstra wirelees broadband would you do your banking on wifi

Gary and Kerry · Guru

brickies wrote:

Hi all is wifi safe has telstra wirelees broadband would you do your banking on wifi

Anyone using wireless should have their computer encrypted to stop others from using their bandwidth.
We just started using wireless at home and doing a scan produced 2 other systems close to my house that if I wished to, I could use.
There are kids who drive around just searching for un encrypted systems to hack into.
I don't believe they can use the information stored on your computer just use your downloads. So be careful wherever you use wireless. Stepson is a programmer and I will ask him for more information tonight.

VK3FEMT · Senior Member

MMMM I'M LOVING IT!

Hope they get the Tassies up and running before I get there, damn free internet, cardboard burgers and watered down god damn ugly coke, who could ask for for eh?

But hey I will gladly chew on cardboard for free net :)
Sounds good, I like this, wonder how fast it is and is there any ports blocked?

-- Edited by bamphoto at 08:53, 2009-01-09

-- Edited by bamphoto at 08:54, 2009-01-09

Basil Faulty · Guru

dave06 wrote:

if your laptop is a later model or an upmarket one then it probably has a wireless device thingy built in

Yes, Dave is right we bought our new laptop with a wireless "modem" built in. I think my version of XP sp2 is the weak link because I have to set up the DNS adresses manually but most seem to be able to just sit down and log on, but me no, I have to fart around and put the DNS adresses in despite having the thing set on "Find DNS Automatically".
BIG4 van parks have wireless net these days but you have to pay, lots of motels as well..... Maybe we should share passwords of places with internet so we can just pull up out front and log on...
I like the hotcakes aka pankakes and they seem to be back on the menu but the bacon & egg roll (without the sauce) is not to dusty either.... We generally get a refill on our Maccas travel mugs and log on, it can take over an hour to finish one of those off....

Basil Faulty · Guru

brickies wrote:

Hi all is wifi safe has telstra wirelees broadband would you do your banking on wifi

Yep, the data is encrypted and as you own the computer all should be safe, even if it transpires that Maccas have "key loggers" working in their WiFi system they would need an "Enigma" machine or better to decypher it. Some banks offer a "security key" which further encrypts the data. Internet banking is basically quite safe, the only traps really are answering fake emails and giving your account details to those not entitled to have them plus I notice now that as the internet is so widely used and you get ripped off by someone who steals your details, but not because you gave them to them because you answered a fake email, the Banks are obliged to cover any such loss. A while back our home phone was cut off because Telstra said we did not pay the bill, it turned out that somone had been getting our money that we had been electronically Bpaying and even Telstra gave us a refund when we quoted the Bpay numbers that are automatically kept.
Over all I recon you are pretty safe, just keep your pin to yourself and don't respond to emails.