The number of dedicated Internet cafés in the United States and many other highly developed countries has been declining in recent years. This is largely due to the growing number of people who connect to the Internet through their own laptops and other mobile devices. Thus many locations, including coffee chains such as Starbucks, do not provide machines, but simply offer wireless Internet access.

Areas where one can make such a wireless connection are called “hot spots.” Today virtually all major hotels and airports provide hot spots; there is normally a fee for access as with Internet cafés. (The fee is collected by routing all access through a portal.) However, a number of venues offer free Wifi access. Users of Internet cafés or hot spots should be aware that they are sharing an ad hoc network with strangers and may be exposed to malicious software. Passwords or other sensitive data may be “sniffed” using special software. It is therefore generally a good idea not to conduct financial transactions or otherwise send sensitive information when connected to such venues, unless one has provided for encryption or can access a virtual private network. Additionally, users connecting their own machines to a hot spot should have up-to-date firewall and antivirus software.