You are travelling and stuck without a data connection on the road? Free public Wi-Fi networks are few of the luxuries that can make travelling easier, but keep in mind that the dangers of having your device compromised are even greater when you are using an unsecure public network to stay connected.
An unsecured network means that there are no password or login credentials required to access it. Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee shops, airports, hotels, universities, and other public places are convenient, but often they are not secure. These wireless networks proves extremely beneficial for attackers, who usually hang out in these public places and access the same Internet connection to steal personal data of other unknown users.
When you connect your device to a Wi-Fi network and send information through websites or mobile apps, these are chances that it can be accessed by others as well. Although most wireless routers have a firewall to protect users from the internet, but it does not mean that you are protected from other users connected to the same network. It is quite possible for attackers to steal someone’s username and password, or even view their activity just by being on the same network.
Why You Shouldn’t Connect to Unsecure Networks?
There are basically two types of WiFi networks that can be accessed. One is Traditional Access Point networks and the other is Ad-hoc networks. Traditional Access Point networks connect devices directly to a central router, that is; every device connects to a router. However, Ad-hoc networks connect devices directly to one another, that is; you can directly connect a laptop to a tablet or a laptop to a phone together without the need for a router or any other hardware. Therefore, when you connect your laptop to another computer, your laptop will then serve as a network to other devices around you, essentially allowing access to all the personal information on your device to anyone within range.
So, here is how you can stay secured when using a public Wi-Fi network:
- Keep a powerful security solution installed and running on your device.
- Change the settings of your device to the correct level of security each time you connect to a public Wi-Fi network.
- When visiting websites using a public Wi-Fi network, look for https in the URL to know if the website is secure.
- To secure your data when using wireless hotspots, send information only to websites that are fully encrypted.
- Do not stay signed in to accounts for a long time. When you are finished using an account, log out.
- Always remember to use different password on different websites.
- To ensure complete security when making online transactions through Wi-Fi hotspots, use a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs encrypt traffic between your device and the internet.
- Lastly, when you are using a public Wi-Fi at a public place, it is not necessary to share anything. It is advisable to turn off sharing from the system preferences or Control Panel, depending on your OS.
Stay Protected
Users who even take all the possible public Wi-Fi security precautions are going to run across problems from time to time. eScan Total Security Suite with Cloud Security comes with a Wi-Fi control feature that provides Wi-Fi security notifications. Click here to download the free trial of eScan Total Security Suite with Cloud Security from here: https://bit.ly/1rLWjxg
About eScan: eScan, one of the leading Anti-Virus & Content Security solutions for Desktops & Servers is developed and marketed by MicroWorld. It is powered by innovative and futuristic technologies, such as MWL Technology, DIRC Technology, NILP Technology, and sophisticated Anti-Virus Heuristic Algorithms that not only provides protection from current threats, but also provides proactive protection against evolving threats.
Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google Plus
