8 Tips to Use Public Wi-Fi Safely on Any Device

Many organizations have found comfort in operating remotely. So if you often go to a coffee shop or work while traveling and depend on public Wi-Fi, you need to be extra careful. Such Wi-Fi networks are not always secure, much of it depends on who connects to them. Therefore, you need to practice more caution. In this article, we’ll show you eight ways to use public Wi-Fi safely.

We don’t mean to scare you in the first place, but online safety is a necessity. So, by reading this article, you will understand what it means to use a public Wi-Fi network, the risks associated with this network, and how to keep yourself safe from fraudulent transactions. Let’s start with the basics.

What does unsecured network mean?

It’s always a pleasure to find an open, high-speed Wi-Fi network in public. However, before the connection goes away, you must keep a few things in mind. Firstly, it has no password. This means that it does not have any security and is therefore called an insecure network. So if a hacker is nearby and feels like committing evil deeds online on that insecure network, there is little chance of stopping him.

But how can malicious activity be conducted on an open Wi-Fi network? Let us find out.

How hackers take advantage of public Wi-Fi users

• Rogue Hotspot: There’s always the possibility of some malicious, free, open Wi-Fi network masquerading as a secure network. However, this can be dangerous because sometimes all your online activities can easily be viewed or even controlled.
• Rogue System Upgrade Warning: Malicious Wi-Fi networks can promote phishing attempts through rogue system upgrades. And the moment you accept it, it is very easy for hackers to extract and access all your data, or even push trojans and other elements to gain control of your system.
• File sharing: It’s easy to share files between devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network and an unsecured network. As mentioned earlier, a malicious network can push files into your system to access and control data.

But don’t worry – in the next part of the article, we’ve provided you with methods to use public Wi-Fi safely. You can certainly achieve a good degree of online protection with these methods.

How to protect yourself on public Wi-Fi

There are ways to stay safe when you’re on a public Wi-Fi network. On the one hand, if there are ways your safety can be compromised, there are also ways to fight back equally and stay protected and safe. Here’s how you can do it.

1. Use only protected Wi-Fi

We strongly recommend using protected Wi-Fi networks. Only use password-protected networks or networks where you are immediately directed to the Wi-Fi login page to enter your details and receive a password, or are directly logged into the network.

However, if there’s no way to use a secured network and you have no other choice – here’s how you can use a VPN to keep yourself secure.

2. Use VPN

Earlier, we discussed how you can easily be exploited when using public Wi-Fi networks. However, wouldn’t it be great if we could route the network through a secure medium? This way you can definitely achieve more privacy.

This is exactly what a VPN does. It routes your internet traffic, both inbound and outbound, through a private, secure server. While there are tons of free VPN options, we recommend choosing a premium service like ExpressVPN or Nord VPN. These services provide a solid VPN protection.

3. Disable automatic connection features

Some devices automatically connect to the open network. Now that we are aware of the dangers associated with using a public network, we obviously wouldn’t want to automatically connect to one. Therefore, you can always use the Wi-Fi settings in your device to disable the automatic connection feature.

For example, on iPhone, you can set ‘Automatically join hotspot’ to never or ‘Ask to join’. The latter ensures you’re always informed about the public network, but you’ll only be connected with your confirmation.

4. Enable 2FA for all sensitive apps

When you use unsecured public Wi-Fi, there is always the risk of a malicious network stealing your account information. However, you can prevent any misuse of this information by enabling 2-factor authentication on all your devices.

This means that whenever there is an attempt to log in to your account using 2FA, you will receive a notification and a second step – say login confirmation via a second device or by entering a one-time password. via SMS.

This is a great way to stay safe and prevent any damage when using public Wi-Fi safely. All major internet services related to login provide you with Two-Factor Authentication. Activate it!

5. Make sure your device is updated to the latest version

Software updates are extremely important in adding security patches to your device. Therefore, you should always use the latest version of the software. So keep checking if your device has received the software update or not.

This way, you can at least make sure your device has all the elements of the software that keep you safe and secure when using public Wi-Fi networks.

6. Only access HTTPS sites

There are two main internet protocols that you must know – HTTP and HTTPS

HTTP is a protocol used to retrieve content from the internet and to facilitate the exchange of data on the internet. It’s an unencrypted connection, suitable for simple activities or accessing public websites that don’t require you to submit any login information.

HTTPS, on the other hand, is a secure connection that encrypts important data you upload online, such as your username and password. It forbids everyone to keep an eye on the same.

Enabling the HTTPS always on option will convert HTTP connections to HTTPS. When you enable HTTPS AlwaysOn, browsers will use an encrypted HTTPS connection on any website that supports it.

Therefore, you should always ensure that you are accessing a website that runs on the HTTPS protocol. This way, you’ll be able to safely use public Wi-Fi without any worries.

7. Make sure Firewall or Defender is Enabled

If you are using a Windows machine, you must know about the built-in Windows Firewall and Defender. They are great tools to keep you safe from harmful elements on the internet. So whenever you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, always make sure you have the option on Windows Defender to protect online enabled.

8. Avoid financial transactions

Financial transactions involve a lot of confidential and sensitive information. While we have plenty of methods to help you safely use public Wi-Fi, we recommend avoiding any kind of financial transaction because it’s always risky.

We also say this because it is not possible to know each element of a public Wi-Fi network. Assuming you’re setting up a Wi-Fi network at home, you can either make sure you get the most secure Wi-Fi router or talk to your service provider for the best network security. However, that is not the case with public Wi-Fi networks. Therefore, avoid doing any financial activities on such networks.

Use public Wi-Fi safely without worries

Here are some suggestions for using public Wi-Fi safely. We hope the next time you sip your coffee and wonder if Starbucks’ Wi-Fi is secure, you’ll have a comprehensive answer. So enjoy your time at the coffee shop and get your work done for the day without worrying about your online security. Happy web surfing!

Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/