Public WiFi – Use These Tips to Secure Yourself Online

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With remote work and digitalization, people use the internet even in the most unconventional places. Airports, public libraries, independent coffee shops, and even big grocery chains offer free public WiFi. But public WiFi is not your friend, and you may understand why by the end of this article. It is fairly easy for threat actors and hackers to mislead people when searching for free WiFi at libraries, airports, and other public places. They hope you will select their network when you browse the list of accessible WiFi networks (aka SSIDs). This article at ZDNET by Danny Palmer discusses the risks of using a public WiFi network.

Why Public WiFi Is a Scary Place to Visit

Let us examine the security dangers of using those incredibly convenient public WiFi networks, including password-protected networks. Most people assume that these suitable choices for mobile users are safe. However, there is still a risk. Public WiFi networks have built-in security flaws which hackers can exploit by setting up traps, creating a fake access point next to your network, and tricking WiFi users into using it.

Steps You Can Use to Protect Yourself Online

Connecting to public WiFi to save money on using your data may seem like a good idea, but in the bargain, you risk exposing your sensitive data. There is a good probability that criminals will set up a phony public WiFi network to steal your data. How can you make sure you are using a legit WiFi network? Verify the WiFi network’s name listed for the public area with the staff members.

Be cautious about the information you share on public WiFi networks and refrain from using them if you need to share any sensitive data, such as usernames, passwords, or financial information. Use secondary email addresses and ensure none of your major accounts’ passwords are identical to those of your secondary email addresses.

Setting your device to forget previously used networks, or at the very least instructing it not to automatically re-join them, will help keep you safe.

Using VPNs offers two essential features. It is difficult for the network operator to monitor the data you send and receive and to determine your precise location.

Use your smartphone as a WiFi hotspot and tether from it to connect your laptop to the internet in public spaces. Ensure to use a strong password to safeguard the connection.

To read the original article, click on https://www.zdnet.com/article/connecting-to-public-wi-fi-heres-how-to-protect-your-data-and-your-device/.

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