We all love to use it, whether we are at an airport, hotel, conference center, or even at the little coffee shop around the corner – public Wi-Fi. This service makes our lives infinitely easier as we strive to remain mobile and yet still connected to our business data. However, convenience advantages aside, there are dangers to the use of these notoriously unsecure connections. Let’s take a closer look at what vulnerabilities lurk when you log in to free public Wi-Fi.
The Dangers of Public Wi-Fi Locations
- According to the internet group Golden Frog, “There are over 100,000 unsecured public Wi-Fi hotspots around the world, with reports that one out of four are completely unsecured.” This means that for the typical business traveler who uses free Wi-Fi, there is a good possibility that the network is not secure enough for your data.
- Malware – A Wi-Fi network that is not secure can be used to inject malware into devices connected to the network, thus gaining access to your data.
- Hackers – Cyber criminals love to infiltrate unsecured Wi-Fi networks and use them to collect personal details or sensitive login information.
- Man-in-the-Middle – Malicious attackers intercept information as you access it via a hot spot and can illegally gain access to some of your sensitive business or personal information.
Steps to Take to Protect Yourself
- Turn off file sharing settings, so others on the network cannot access your information while you are logged in.
- Use a VPN – Virtual Private Network.
- Use two-factor authentication for all login credentials on accounts, that way, even if they gain initial entry, they can not access individual accounts easily.
- Turn off Wi-Fi whenever you aren’t using it – this prevents it from automatically connecting and putting you at risk while you travel through multiple hotspots.
- Always use HTTPS for websites you visit. Remember the S stands for Security. Look for that on the address bar as well as the security lock.
- Use a firewall to protect your data.
- Update your settings to forget network, preventing these networks from being saved on your phone and automatically connecting without you knowing.
For more information or help securing your data call M&H Consulting at 1-(866)-964-8324.
Categorised in: wifi