According to Cisco’s Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast, there are already more mobile-connected devices than the entire world’s population and by 2018 it is expected that there will be more mobile traffic on WiFi than on cellular networks. Free public Wi-Fi hotspots can be found everywhere now – in coffee shops, hotels, restaurants, malls and airports. The incredible convenience of free wireless hotspots means that you can do business practically everywhere! Unfortunately, this free access doesn’t come without a price. Along with the ease and accessibility of free Wi-Fi comes the risk of identity thieves and cyber criminals.
Millions of Americans who use public Wi-Fi do not realize that their personal information is at risk of being stolen, according to a survey released by the cyber security company Symantec. More than 60 percent of consumers think their information is safe when using public internet. Since Wi-Fi uses radio waves, cyber criminals and hackers can use the openness of those signals (and along the right eavesdropping software), take your information including: pin numbers, passwords, data, log-ins and other personal data.
Here are a few tips to keep your information safe. If you want a complete evaluation of your mobile devices and further information about the hazards of public Wi-Fi, contact M&H Consultants.
- To protect yourself when using public Wi-Fi use a virtual private network (VPN), which will encrypt and anonymize traffic. VPNs create a network-within-a-network solution to keep everything you do on public Wi-Fi private. Even on a password-protected network, people can still intercept the signal. To set-up VPN, you need to download an app and then follow your smartphone’s steps to set it up.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Make sure there are no people watching as you enter passwords or pin numbers. These “shoulder surfers†can be just as dangerous as software that can find out your pin numbers and passwords.
- Be careful what sites you visit. Save banking and social media sites for when you can get to a private network that is secure. Don’t do online banking or access sensitive data on public Wi-Fi if possible, even if the sites are encrypted with HTTPS. A VPN connection would likely protect you, so it’s a worthy investment if you find yourself regularly using public Wi-Fi.
- Keep your device up-to-date on software and firewalls. The latest versions can be a safer bet than older versions that have been accessed by hackers already.
Categorised in: wifi