With shops, hotels, shopping malls, airports, and many other locations offering their customers free access to public Wi-Fi, it’s a convenient way to check your emails, catch up on social networking, or surf the web when you’re out and about. However, cybercriminals will often spy on public Wi-Fi networks and intercept data that is transferred across the link. In this way, the criminal can access users’ banking credentials, account passwords, and other valuable information.
Data sent through public Wi-Fi can easily be intercepted, many mobile device and laptop users are risking the security of their personal information, digital identity, and money. Furthermore, if their device or computer is not protected by effective security products, the risks are even greater.
Here are some useful tips:
· Be very cautious about connecting to any open or public Wi-Fi, as they are typically insecure.
· Any device could be at risk, including laptops, mobile phones or tablets.
· Verify that it is a legitimate wireless connection. Fake Wi-Fi hotspots are often setup with a very similar name to a legitimate offering, such as a hotel, coffee shop or other venue. It could have been easily setup by a cybercriminal that’s trying to capture valuable, personal information from unsuspecting users. Question everything – and don’t connect to an unknown or unrecognized wireless access point.
If you can speak with an employee at the location that’s providing the public Wi-Fi connection, ask for information about their legitimate Wi-Fi access point – such as the connection’s name and IP address.
· Avoid logging into websites where there’s a chance that cybercriminals could capture your identity, passwords, or personal information – such as social networking sites, online banking services, or any websites that store your credit card information.
· Make sure all of your devices are protected by appropriate firewall, antivirus, antimalware and antispyware software – and ensure that it’s updated as regularly as possible.
0