These apps, selected by PC World’s editors, will help you find and connect to networks, set up a virtual private network, and even do some social networking via Wi-Fi.

Wireless Wizard
Display a great deal of information about your current wireless connection.

Plug and Browse
Easily move between wireless networks, and retain important settings.

Wi-Fi Guardian
Surf securely through Wi-Fi Hotspots or regular connections.

Wi-Fi Hopper
Here’s a great tool for sniffing out any nearby networks, and getting a great deal of information about them, to make it easier to know whether you should connect.

Whisher
Access thousands of commercial and shared Wi-Fi networks around the world.