Public Wi-Fi networks—like those in coffee shops or hotels,airports—are not nearly as safe as you think. Even if they have a password, but still sharing a network with tons of other people, which means your data is at risk. Here’s how to stay safe when you’re out and about.
What we covered?
Public WiFi
When it comes to the airport, hotel and similar hotspots, convenience rules. Both the suppliers and the users want their networks to be as easy to use as possible. Anything that would require IT support is an anathema because support is expensive and there are no long-term benefits.
In general, the perceived value of hotspot communications is low, and that applies to both the traffic and the customers. First, hotspot users are mostly checking the weather, or news, or posting social media updates rather than, for example, trading stocks and shares or exchanging sensitive medical information. The perceived value of the traffic is low.
Security
- You should obviously make sure your PC’s security patches are up-to-date and have anti-malware software and a firewall in place.
- For extra security, turn off file and printer sharing: open file-sharing could allow a hacker to put malware on your computer. Also, turn off both wifi and Bluetooth when you are not using them: they allow you to be tracked.
- Worse, smartphones and laptops may connect automatically to any available networks, including rogue and ad hoc networks running on nearby laptops. It’s therefore important to know each hotspot’s exact name before you try to connect.
