8 Tips on How to Protect Yourself From Public WiFi
Have you ever used public Wi-Fi to check your email, make a payment or access social media?
Public Wi-Fi can be a convenient and sometimes free way of accessing the internet, but it can also be quite risky! Public Wi-Fi is not as secure as your home network.
Cybercriminals can easily intercept your data by setting up “evil twin” Wi-Fi networks and lure you into connecting. This can lead to data theft, identity theft, and other malicious online activities.
In this post, we’ll provide you with some handy tips to stay safe while using public Wi-Fi and avoid the potential risks.
1. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
One of the best ways to protect your online activity when using public Wi-Fi is to use a VPN or Virtual Private Network. It’s a smart and secure way to encrypt your online activity and keep your sensitive information safe from prying eyes. A VPN will allow you to create a private network within a public one, which means that even if someone tries to intercept your data, they won’t be able to read it.
2. Confirm the network’s legitimacy
Before you connect to a public WiFi network, do some background research to determine its legitimacy. If possible, try to connect to networks in well-established businesses, such as hotels or restaurants. Be cautious of any network that appears to have a generic or suspicious name.
3. Keep Your Software Up to Date
Whether you’re using a smartphone, laptop, or tablet, keeping your software up to date is critical to protecting your sensitive information. Hackers are always looking for vulnerabilities and loopholes in outdated software. On the other hand, software updates contain critical security patches and fixes that could prevent attacks and keep you safe.
4. Turn off Automatic WiFi Connectivity
Public WiFi can be a magnet for your device if your device has been connected to these open networks before. It will automatically connect to the same network the next time it’s in range. Therefore, it’s best to turn off the automatic wifi connectivity setting on your device.
5. Use two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication is an additional layer of security that requires a user to provide two forms of authentication to access an account. Enabling this feature for all of your online accounts will keep them secure, even if your password is compromised.
6. Avoid Sensitive Transactions
Sensitive transactions such as online banking, shopping or browsing social media accounts involving sensitive/personal information should be avoided, or best if they are done using your mobile data instead of public WiFi. If you must use public WiFi, make sure you are browsing trusted websites only.
7. Be Careful with Your Login Credentials
Logging on to your email or banking account while in public WiFi networks is a big no-no. While accessing these sites, use “https://” instead of “http://”. This is a secure layer that will encrypt your data. It’s also not recommended to save your login credentials or to check the “remember me” box to avoid the risk of unauthorized access.
8. Keep Your Antivirus Software Up-to-Date
Antivirus software is just like the gatekeeper of your device. Updates are released by software makers to protect their clients from new malware threats. Installing a reputable antivirus software and keeping it up-to-date will strengthen your device’s security and help combat harmful viruses.
PublicWiFi may be convenient, but it can also pose a huge risk. Proactive steps like using VPNs, being careful with login credentials, keeping antivirus software up-to-date, avoiding sensitive transactions, and turning off automatic WiFi connectivity can go a long way toward safeguarding your personal information. After all, it’s better to stay safe than sorry. By being vigilant, aware and taking precautions, you’ll keep your personal information secure while enjoying the convenience of public WiFi.
That’s all for this list on the 8 Tips on How to Protect Yourself From Public WiFi!
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Stay safe out there! Use these tips the next time you are connected to a Public Wifi.
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