The other day I was helping a friend find off-campus housing for her second year at the University of Ottawa.

Like most students, she had a checklist.

Close to campus.

Within budget.

Utilities included.

And, of course… Wi-Fi.

Listing after listing proudly advertised “High-Speed Wi-Fi Included!” It seemed to be one of the biggest selling features.

After seeing it over and over again, I stopped and asked myself a simple question.

How many students actually know what that means?

That question quickly turned into a conversation, and it made me realize something.

Today’s generation has grown up surrounded by technology. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, gaming consoles, smart TVs… they’ve never known a world without them. They can install apps, stream movies, join video calls, and connect just about anything to Wi-Fi without giving it a second thought.

But ask how that Wi-Fi gets to their phone…

Or what they’re actually connecting to…

And many have no idea.

That’s not meant as a criticism.

Nobody ever taught them.

Technology has become so easy to use that we’ve stopped explaining how it works.

Wi-Fi Isn’t the Internet

This is probably the biggest misconception I run into.

People often use the terms Wi-Fi and Internet as if they’re the same thing.

They’re not.

The Internet is the service coming into the building from your Internet Service Provider (Bell, Rogers, TekSavvy, etc.).

Wi-Fi is simply the wireless connection between your device and your router.

Think of it like this.

The Internet is the road leading to your house.

Your modem is the front door.

Your router directs everyone where they need to go.

Wi-Fi is just the hallway connecting your phone or laptop to that router.

No Internet connection?

Your Wi-Fi network can still exist… it just won’t take you anywhere.

So What Does “Wi-Fi Included” Really Mean?

This is where my IT brain started asking questions.

When a landlord advertises Wi-Fi Included, are they paying for a separate Internet connection for every tenant?

Probably not.

In most cases there’s a single Internet connection coming into the house.

One modem.

One router.

Everyone connects to it.

There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s exactly how most homes work.

But when you move into a shared house with five or six other people, you’re no longer the only one using it.

You’re Sharing More Than You Think

Imagine it’s seven o’clock on a Tuesday night.

One roommate is watching Netflix.

Someone else is downloading the latest Call of Duty update.

Another is on a Zoom class.

Someone’s uploading photos to the cloud.

Another is gaming online.

Everyone is using the same Internet connection.

Think of it like traffic on the Queensway.

The more cars you add, the slower things move.

That’s why your “high-speed fibre Internet” can sometimes feel anything but fast.

It’s Not Just the Internet You’re Sharing

Here’s the part that made me stop and think.

If everyone in the house is connected to the same Wi-Fi network, there’s a good chance they’re also connected to the same local network.

That doesn’t automatically mean people can see what’s on your computer.

Modern versions of Windows, macOS, Android, and iPhones are much more secure than they were years ago.

But…

You’re still trusting everyone on that network.

If someone has an infected computer…

If they’ve disabled security features…

If they’re running outdated software…

Or if the network hasn’t been configured properly…

There are risks.

Most people never think about that because all they see is a Wi-Fi password.

Public Wi-Fi Isn’t Much Different

The same idea applies at coffee shops, hotels, airports, and restaurants.

Yes, they’re convenient.

Yes, we’ve all used them.

But remember…

You’re sharing those networks with complete strangers.

If you’re checking your bank account, logging into work, or accessing anything sensitive, using a trusted VPN is never a bad idea.

It’s one more layer of protection between your device and everyone else on that network.

Questions Worth Asking

If you’re renting a room and the listing says “Wi-Fi Included,” don’t be afraid to ask a few questions.

How many people share the Internet connection?
Is there a separate Wi-Fi network for each apartment or floor?
Who do I contact if the Internet goes down?
Is the connection fibre, cable, or DSL?
Can I plug directly into the router if I need a faster connection?

Most landlords will happily answer those questions.

Nobody Is Born Knowing This Stuff

After more than 25 years working in IT, I’ve learned something.

The biggest security risk usually isn’t technology.

It’s assuming someone else has already explained it.

They haven’t.

We teach people how to use apps.

We don’t teach them what happens after they tap the icon.

Understanding a few basic concepts—what Wi-Fi actually is, how the Internet reaches your devices, and what it means to share a network—can help you make smarter decisions wherever you live.

Whether you’re moving into your first apartment, heading off to university, or just connecting to the free Wi-Fi at your favourite coffee shop, a little knowledge goes a long way.

The next time you see a rental listing proudly advertising “Wi-Fi Included,” take a second and ask yourself one simple question.

“How is that Wi-Fi actually being provided?”

You might be surprised by the answer.

Why Email Etiquette & Privacy Matter More Than Ever

Email etiquette privacy is something we rarely think about — until it goes wrong. Even though email has been around for decades, it still feels like many people haven’t learned how to use it responsibly. Recently, I received an email from a long-term care (LTC) facility where a family member resides, and the staff member accidentally CC’d roughly 256 people instead of using BCC.

This meant every recipient’s email address — including mine, despite having no connection to their mailing list — was exposed to hundreds of strangers. To prevent further exposure, I replied to the sender and BCC’d the entire group, explaining the privacy risks and proper email practices.

And then it happened…

Suddenly I became the mail administrator.

Because I tried to do the right thing and protect everyone’s privacy, my name showed up at the top of the thread — and dozens of people started emailing me, asking to be removed from “my” mailing list.

A mailing list I don’t own.
A facility I don’t work for.
A message I didn’t send.

I spent the next hour responding to strangers, clarifying that I was simply trying to stop their emails from being exposed again.

This wasn’t just inconvenient — it shows how poorly we’ve been trained to use email.

Why misusing CC is a serious problem

Putting a large recipient list in CC isn’t a harmless mistake. It has real consequences:

1. Privacy exposure

Everyone’s email became visible to 255 strangers. Many people don’t want their identity or involvement with certain organizations (like LTC facilities) shared.

2. Increased spam & phishing risk

Large visible email lists are easy targets. All it takes is one person copying the thread to start sending unsolicited or malicious messages.

3. Unnecessary confusion

People misread who actually sent the message — which is exactly why so many emailed me afterward.

4. Potential legal/compliance issues

Depending on the organization, this can violate privacy laws or internal data-handling policies. In healthcare and LTC, that risk is even higher.

The bigger problem: People aren’t reading emails properly

Most of the chaos that followed wasn’t the result of bad intent. It was the result of people:

Not reading who the original sender was
Not reading my message carefully
Not understanding what CC vs. BCC means
Assuming I was running a mailing list

We live in a world where technology is everywhere, yet basic email literacy is still shockingly low.

The basics everyone should know (and clearly, many don’t)

Read who the email is actually from

Before replying, look at the sender’s name and address.
It sounds simple… but clearly it’s not.

Read the entire message before reacting

Skimming leads to misinformation and unnecessary replies — especially “Remove me from the list” messages directed at the wrong person.

Understand To, CC, and BCC

This alone would prevent 90% of these problems.

To – the people directly responsible for responding.
CC – visible to everyone; use sparingly.
BCC – hides all recipients; mandatory for large groups or sensitive lists.

Don’t use Reply All unless absolutely necessary

Reply All is a gasoline can. Use only when you absolutely need a fire.

Organizations — especially healthcare — must do better

If your staff sends mass emails:

Train them on CC/BCC
Build proper mailing lists
Put privacy obligations in writing
Treat accidental exposure as a privacy incident
Notify recipients when it happens

This incident wasn’t malicious — but it was preventable.

Final thought: Email is powerful, but only when used properly

Most of us rely on email daily, but that doesn’t mean we’ve mastered it.

Before you hit Send on your next big-group message:

Read who you’re sending to
Read what you’re replying to
Use CC and BCC intentionally
Protect people’s privacy

Because one careless CC can turn a simple update into a privacy breach, a flood of confused replies, and an unnecessary headache for everyone — including the guy who was just trying to help.

“Good email etiquette and privacy awareness could have prevented this entirely…”

Tag Archives: Digital Literacy

Does Your Apartment Include Wi-Fi? Cool… But What Does That Actually Mean?