Doug Bowman has written up a great piece on how to securely access your e-mail when you are using open or public WiFi Hotspots.
The majority of these wireless networks are configured with the lowest possible security settings, so that customers can connect to the network as easy and trouble-free as possible. This allows just about anyone with a wireless-capable laptop computer or handheld to walk into a typical cafe, grab a cup of coffee, and start browsing or checking their email immediately.
This will especially come in handy if you are planning on attending any conferences in the near future.
