Stay Secure on Public Wi-Fi by Following These Helpful Guidelines
Getting connected to the internet is a really important daily “ritual” for today’s people. Thus, Wi-Fi turns to be a valuable asset, particularly in these interconnected times. Wi-Fi infrastructure in public places grows to support this “online” lifestyle.
Unfortunately, behind the convenience of Wi-Fi, there lay tons of risks such as viruses and phishing. So, public Wi-Fi networks are not as safe as most people think. Even if the networks require a password and most wireless routers have a firewall, your data is still at risk because you are sharing a network with a lot of people and not protected from those connected to the same network. This article will remind you of the importance of Wi-Fi security in public spots and discuss 12 ways to stay secure on public Wi-Fi with IT Solution.
1. Watch the Authenticity Out
One of the most common tricks used in stealing sensitive information through public Wi-Fi is providing spoofed hotspots whose name resembles the official name. The networks usually lack the WPA password and are not the kind of Wi-Fi protection access you generally meet in public places. The connections are unencrypted, which means someone on the same network can steal your email, password, and other sensitive information effortlessly. So, check it first to stay secure on public Wi-Fi.
2. Use HTTPs and SSL
The pages initiated with https in the URL are encrypted. These pages are safe to surf since Man-in-the-Middle attacks are less likely to occur in the pages with up-to-date SSL/TLS encryption. This certificate is today’s must-have property for pages where the online transaction or sensitive information input occurs. If the page where you will do online banking does not have https in the URL address bar or the security padlock sign, just leave.
3. Patch and Update Regularly
Of many public wifi security best practices, regular patching and software updating is essential. Your antivirus, applications, and web browser need a regular update. Poor patching potentially drags you to downloading malware-infected updates or files.
4. Avoid Using Sensitive Information
On public Wi-fi, you are sharing a network with tons of people. You are prone to attacks done by someone from the same network. So, avoid using sensitive information such as email and banking accounts.
5. Select a Wi-Fi Network Manually
You can manually select a Wi-Fi network. It is a simple yet effective way to stay secure on public Wi-Fi. Turn off Wi-Fi when you are not using it. Also, delete certain networks from your gadget history so it will need to reconnect when in use again.
6. Use a Virtual Private Network
If you’re wary about your security, get a Singapore VPN to surf the webs in an encrypted manner. This can be a solution if the sites you are visiting do not offer SSL encryption. VPN lets you route all your online activities through a separate, private network that can give extra security. You just need to install it on your gadget and turn it on when you are connected to a Wi-Fi network.
7. Utilize Security Tools for Extra Security
There are many security tools including VPN, Tor, and Do Not Track. The tools will force encryption on the encrypted webs. This extra protection will give extra security and work well on most sites.
8. Adopt 2FA
Two Factor Authentication (2FA) is recommended for those using shared networks in public places. It protects you from the possibilities of password sniffing hacking.
9. Enable the Firewall
Although most operating systems feature a basic firewall, you must turn it on for taking its advantage. Go to your security settings and enable it. In the settings, you can also select which applications are allowed to run on your system. It is not a really strong way to stay secure on public Wi-Fi, but it is wise to always turn it on.
10. Logout After Each Session
After finishing your session in the sites where you log in, log out immediately. Permanent signing-in only makes you exposed and prone to cyber attacks.
11. Turn Off Sharing and Network Discovery
On public Wi-Fi, you should turn off sharing as others sharing the same network can access your files too, depending on your settings. Besides, you should also turn off network discovery to prevent others from seeing you on the network. This can reduce the possibility of you being the target of cyber attacks.
12. Turn Off Wi-Fi
This is a really, really easy way to stay secure on public Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, most people underestimate it. If you care about your security on public Wi-Fi, turn off Wi-Fi when not actively using the internet. This will make you less noticed and targeted by attackers.
The 12 things are a good quick cybersecurity checklist you should do every time you are on a public network. Stay secure on public Wi-Fi with our IT services.
