So what are the dangers of logging on to public Wi-Fi?

Picture the scene. You’re on the train, heading to an important client meeting and on the way, you decide to catch up on some critical tasks during your journey. To do this, you’ll have to log onto the Wi-Fi. Seems safe enough, right? The truth is that all sorts of different threats can be lurking in the background.

Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is the Wi-Fi you’ll find in places like cafe’s, business centres, on public transport or shops, allowing you to access the internet free of charge. Otherwise known as ‘hotspots’, they are everywhere these days. We may connect to them without little thought. The truth is, that when accessing sites requiring a login, like online banking, doing this through public Wi-Fi can be risky.

What Risks Exist?

The main problem is that many of the businesses or people providing free Wi-Fi to their customers aren’t aware of the security needed to keep their customers safe. This can cause problems, such as:

Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

Otherwise known as a MitM attack, this is basically ‘eavesdropping’. So why can this happen? When someone connects to the internet, information is sent between two points. Attackers can intercept these and potentially gain access to your activity. So, the public Wi-Fi you thought was secure may be anything but.

Lack of Encryption

Encryption means that information existing between your computer and the router is scrambled, so attackers cannot access your private information. The issue is that most routers are sent from the factory with encryption turned off. Encryption has to be set up when the network is being established for the first time. Of course, if an IT expert set up a router, this probably won’t be an issue. If Dave from accounts set it up, however, encryption probably won’t exist.

Malware

Attackers can gain access to your device through malware. This is achieved through a vulnerability in software or an operating system. Attackers use this point of entry to install malware on your device which, aside from allowing them to gain access, also allows them to damage your system.

Malicious Hotspots

These hotspots are a form of trickery. They exploit people into thinking they are connecting to a legitimate hotspot. In fact, they’re connecting to a rogue hotspot where criminals can access your information and use it for all matters of illegal activities.

How to Protect Yourself When Using Public Wi-Fi

One of the best ways to keep safe when using public Wi-Fi is to install a virtual private network (VPN) on your device. However, this isn’t the only way to protect your sensitive information.

You can also disable file sharing on your device, and log out of all your accounts once you’ve finished with them. We recommend always visiting sites using the secure HTTPS prefix.

It Would Be Best if You Did Not Do the Following:

  • Auto-connect to Wi-Fi networks
  • Log into app-based accounts featuring private information. Use the corresponding website instead, along with the secure HTTPS prefix
  • Leave your Bluetooth or Wi-Fi on if you don’t need the internet
  • Access a Wi-Fi network that doesn’t require a password

The Dangers of Logging On to Public Wi-Fi

by Jayson Gurney time to read: 2 min
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