Public Wi-Fi – Risks
What Are The Risks of Public Wi-Fi?
Using public Wi-Fi is almost a daily occurrence for many people in today’s highly-connected world. People access public Wi-Fi (commonly known as “hotspots”) at their favorite coffee shops, malls, retailers, airports, hotels, and more. Unfortunately, public Wi-Fi is rarely secure, and most people don’t take steps to secure their Internet connections, making them very vulnerable to hacks, malware attacks, keystroke logging and more. Learn more about the risks and what can be done to mitigate them below.
The Issues Public Wi-Fi Can Present
Due to the fact that public Wi-Fi either has very lax or nonexistent security procedures in place, virtually anyone with some basic Internet connection knowledge can eavesdrop on someone’s else Internet activity. This type of attack is often known as a “Man in the Middle” (MitM) attack. When data is sent between point A (laptop/smartphone/tablet) to point B (service/website/app), anyone can get between the transmissions and read them.
Virtually all public Wi-Fi networks have no encryption on them. If a network is encrypted, messages sent between one’s laptop/smartphone/tablet to the wireless router powering the network are in a “secret code” that is undecipherable to anyone without having the key to decipher that code. Most routers have encryption capabilities, but most are shipped with them turned off, and most consumers (including business owners) are unaware that they must be turned on when activated. Plus, there’s no way for a network user to tell if the encryption has been enabled or not- thus, it’s not safe to pass any sensitive information from one’s device to the router because anyone may be able to gain access to it.
An unencrypted network can also allow anyone to slip malware onto one’s laptop/smartphone/tablet without the user even knowing it’s there. Software vulnerabilities in operating systems and software programs give attackers a chance to slip malware onto unsuspecting people’s devices. If this occurs, one’s keystrokes could be recorded and/or data could be transmitted to the attacker’s device, enabling the attacker to access sensitive information accounts such as bank accounts, PayPal accounts, credit card accounts, healthcare accounts, and more. In addition, there are software kits and devices that can aid attackers in achieving these objectives, making it even more dangerous to use unencrypted Wi-Fi networks.
Another issue for consumers using public Wi-Fi is that they often can’t identify the public Wi-Fi network they want to connect to. Attackers will often set up their own rogue hotspots with names that sound similar to the business or location a person is located at. The person thinks that rogue hotspot is the official public Wi-Fi network of the business or location, but it isn’t. Logging onto such a hotspot will give the attacker access to everything the consumer does while on that network, including sensitive passwords and other information. Malicious code and malware can also be put on a laptop/smartphone/tablet while connected to this hotspot as well.
Staying Safe on Public Wi-Fi
Ideally, one would want to use a virtual private network (VPN), such as Norton Secure VPN, to ensure one’s data remains protected while on public Wi-Fi. A VPN creates a private wireless network out of the public Wi-Fi network and encrypts everything so that only the user and the site the user logs onto knows the sensitive data that is entered.
If a consumer doesn’t currently use a VPN yet, there are some steps to take while on public Wi-Fi. It is preferable to avoid inputting any sensitive information onto any site while on public Wi-Fi, but if it must be done while on public Wi-Fi, ensure the site is using HTTPS, not HTTP. This will encrypt any data being sent. When the person is done using a site with a login, he/she should manually log out; this will help to ensure an attacker can’t log onto the site later after the person has navigated away from the site or even left the public Wi-Fi network.
Do not input sensitive information into an app, since it is unknown (and unlikely) that information would be encrypted. One should also avoid sites that hold critical information such as financial sites and healthcare sites while on public Wi-Fi; save such activity to do at home on one’s secure home network.
Additionally, a person should turn off auto-connecting on his/her device and manually connect to any Wi-Fi networks to minimize the chances of connecting to a rogue hotspot by accident. Also be sure to turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use to ensure someone else cannot access one’s device.
As said above, using a VPN while on public Wi-Fi is a consumer’s best bet to staying safe while using it. Norton Secure VPN is available to protect 1 device for $29.99, 5 devices for $39.99 for the first year, $59.99 to protect 10 devices for the first year. It works with virtually any Android, iOS, or Windows device and ensures one’s data is encrypted when he/she is on a public Wi-Fi network. There is no log-in required to access the virtual private network, and there is a 60-day money back guarantee. Purchasing a VPN such as Norton Secure VPN is a smart investment to ensure one’s data is encrypted and protected while accessing any public Wi-Fi network.