If you are new to The world of hotspots and wi-fi connections you may need a step-by-step set of instructions to get your first connection.

For people with Windows operating Systems there is a good set of step-by-step instructions to create a wi-fi connection over at About.com.

If you are unsure of what the key terms are in this area you should also read about WEP, SSID and WPA. Once you know what these terms are and how they enable you to understand making a wi-fi connection you are really on the way.

If you are running a Linux flavoured operating system, like Ubuntu, you might start with an article "Making Wireless work in Ubuntu" which is an excerpt from "The Official Ubuntu Book".

AND while we are at it, there are some basic hotspot safety tips you should read and apply when connecting to hotspots.