Table of Contents
1. Pick a legitimate and secure network
Not all hotspots deserve your trust, so don’t jump on every Wi-Fi network that appears in the range of your device. Online scammers may want to trick you into joining a fake network designed specifically to get your personal information. Before connecting to a public Wi-Fi, ask employees for the proper access point and read its name carefully. When you don’t see any information about a Wi-Fi network, and there is nobody nearby to ask, or simply when the hotspot looks suspicious to you, don’t use it.
And finally, remember that password-protected Wi-Fi is always safer than a fully open, unsecured one. A private network maintained by a given venue generates significantly less traffic, thus reducing the risk of dangerous security breaches.
2. Look for HTTPS
When joining public Wi-Fi, don’t forget to look for a lock icon on the address bar, as it is a symbol of a secure web protocol named HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure).
HTTPS is an extended version of HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), providing encrypted communication between your web browser and the website server. This means that even if the data is intercepted by a stranger, it will be presented as a nonsensical and useless string of characters. Accordingly, HTTPS websites provide a higher level of online security and privacy.
Nowadays, all of the most popular browsers have built-in features warning you of potentially dangerous websites. It’s the least troublesome method of protection against online scammers. Just don’t ignore your browser warnings!
3. Use a VPN
Until recently, the term VPN was known only among the most advanced internet users. However, lately, this mysterious acronym is widely recognized as the key element of safe and truly unrestricted use of the Internet.
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. In basic terms, it’s a technology used for establishing a protected, encrypted online connection. A good VPN prevents you from leaving online traces that may put you at risk of data interception. It hides your identity, internet traffic, and all the most sensitive data from the eyes of internet strangers. That’s why using a VPN makes your daily internet activities much safer.
VPN is a perfect option for people who are constantly on the run and doomed to use a public wireless connection.
More info about VPN: https://vpnperf.net/what-is-a-vpn/
4. Never forget about your security updates
Software updates not only make your devices run smoother but also keep them safe from the most common attacks. Remember that hackers are pretty up-to-date with the operating systems’ security holes. Therefore, using older software versions is like opening doors and inviting cybercriminals to plant malware on your system.
The threat can be even more serious when affecting not only yourself but also your family, friends, colleagues, and other people sharing a network with you. Unsecured use of public Wi-Fi can lead to malware spreading uncontrollably in your private network.
5. Don’t put any sensitive data in
You should always assume that a public Wi-Fi network you’re about to join is not secure. While it may work for the simplest of things, such as checking the opening hours of the nearest hairdresser, you definitely shouldn’t use it for serious actions, like banking or online shopping.
If you really need to access websites that store or require some kind of sensitive information, for example, banking services or social media platforms, consider using your mobile phone network. Unlike a public wireless connection, data sent via a cellular network is encrypted and thus much safer.
