When on a password-secure Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) point, messages sent to and from unprotected websites are safer, but not as safe as when sites enable security on their end, experts say.

CNN: Why Google's data collection snafu could be good for Gmail

In November a pair of German computer science students made a critical first step toward cracking the Wi-Fi Protected Access encryption standard, or WPA, once heralded as the solution to WEP's insecurity.

FORBES: Magazine Article

But before that approval, the Wi-Fi Alliance, an industry consortium that promotes Wi-Fi technology, previously adopted most of the features already assumed to be part of the 802.11i standard and built them into a temporary set of enhancements that it called Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) which is available on most newer Wi-Fi access points.

FORBES: Wireless Standards On The Move

New security measures will be included with some Wi-Fi products this year, though they'll carry an extra label with the words "Wireless Protected Access, " or WPA. When the 802.11i standard is finished, we're told that WPA-compliant products will be upgradeable to support the new standard.

FORBES: Magazine Article