Have Some Questions About Wifi

I use WiFi with my notebook, and have some questions :

1. Can you connect laptops/notebooks directly to the Internet or do you HAVE to use WiFi? If so, how?
2. Under my "View your active networks" it says the following:
a. Name of our router and our last name
b. Says "Public Network"
c. Access type: internet
d. Connections: Wifi and name of our router and our last name
Does this look correct?
3. When we click on our taskbar where the WiFi connections are, it lists our router name and last name and it also SOMETIMES says "Unidentified Network Public Network." After this it says "Access Type: Internet." After that it says "Connections: Ethernet 2." I am concerned about this unidentified public network. Should I be, or does all this look normal?
4. When we click on the taskbar, we usually see several (4-6) other connections listed (rarely we see only our connection, but as I said, this is very rare. We usually see other connections.) These connections say a name or some wording with the words "Secured." However, one consistently says "Open." We recognize one of these connection names as our neighbor across the street. We do not recognize the other names but assume they are other neighbors near to us on our street. Would you consider all of this normal for WiFi, or do you see any concerns?
5. Occasionally our WiFi disconnects for some reason. This is not common but it does happen. When this happens, we have to click a button on our router to get the connection back. Can you tell me the reason(s) why this happens?
6. Overall, what are, if any, "risks," in using WiFi, such as our security or somebody possibly hacking into our computer, and causing problems? I ask this because in the last two months two of our computers completely lost their operating systems, and the other is running very slow, not responding, and is almost unusable. (Two out of three computers were on WiFi.) It seems odd that we would have so many problems in so short a time. Basically, what I'm asking is, can somebody on WiFi cause these kinds of problems to somebody else's computer because it is WiFi?
7. Is there any way to "protect" our computers on WiFi from attacks, and if so, how?
8. Since we can see these other people in our WiFi list, I assume they can see our name as well. Is this correct?
9. This may seem like a silly question but where does the WiFi 'come from.' I assume it is transmitted through the air from my router or Internet connection (I am using cable.). Is this correct? Since I am seeing the WiFi connection from a neighbor across the street, and probably others in my vicinity, I assume the WiFi connections are "going through the air." In general, how far do WiFi connections travel?

From what I have told you, am I over worrying for nothing, or do you think I have some genuine concerns?
If so, please outline for me what you would do if you were in my situation as I have described it. Ask me any questions but I believe I have covered everything.
Thank you very much.

 

You are correct in presuming that wi-fi is "over the air". You may see several connection names (and type of security — WPA, WPA2, etc.).

Depending on distance from modem/router, signal strength will vary. Signal strength will also vary if there are obstructions between the modem/router and the device connected via wi-fi.

The "Open" connection is a wi-fi Hot Spot that the owner set up. I have one of those 3 doors away from me.

The owner of the "Unknown" connection may not have set a name for his/her wi-fi.

Your connection name appears normal if that's how it was set up. For instance mine WAS MWD111652 (I've had wi-fi disconnected because I don't use it. My two laptops are connected via ethernet cable to my modem.).

Your connection is "Public" which means it's unsecured. You need to set security to it's highest level attainable by your modem/router to inhibit attacks by hackers. They could access all of your personal information stored on your computer(s).

 

Your connection is "Public" which means it's unsecured. You need to set security to it's highest level attainable by your modem/router to inhibit attacks by hackers. They could access all of your personal information stored on your computer(s).

mdonah-This obviously concerns me. How do I go about doing this? Where in the computer settings do I go? Can I change it from "public" to something else to make my wifi connection more secure? Thank you for your help. (I don't want to connect my laptop to my modem at this time because the computer is at the other end of the house, far away from my modem).

 

Just wanted to add it says "connected, secured" when I click on the wifi icon on the taskbar.

 

You'd need to contact your ISP and have them tell you how to change security settings for your particular modem (if the modem was supplied by them). If you bought your own modem, you'd need to contact the manufacturer or read the manual that should have come with it.

 

Here's a screenshot of '7's network connection where the choices are -


to get there right click on the signal strength icon far right bottom.

 

Yes, you would use an RJ45 cable like this:
https://s24.postimg.org/qby3rakz9/F5280138_01.jpg
You will have a port like this on the laptop:
https://s27.postimg.org/m50t58btv/FXZEHBKFZHLAEHA_MEDIUM.jpg
and on the back of your router:
https://s27.postimg.org/eh814dkdf/linksys_router_wrt54gl_local_interfaces_web.jpg
Use the cable to connect the two and you're online.