Unknown WiFi hotspot?

[#1]

Hi, is it safe to use an unknown Wifi hotspot?  I've just moved and won't be connected to Plusnet until later this month, but I've found I can connect to the net using a 'private network'.  Am I ok here?

Jeanners

[#2]

Definitely no! 
Either:
a)  You've got a neighbour who doesn't know about Wifi security and you're stealing their bandwidth
or
b)  You live near a hacker who is inviting connections to an unsecured hotspot so they can sniff you data and potentially look round your computer (depending on how much you know about security!)

[#3]

Thank you so much.  I know very little about anything so this is very helpful.
Fingers crossed I haven't been hacked...

Jeanners x

[#4]

If you live near neighbours who get their internet from BT, theres a high chance that they are using a BT hub, and that it is broadcasting BTWiFi or BTOpenzone or BTFon.  If it is, you can join that network and buy internet access until you get the Plusnet connection installed.
NorthEasterner