3 Ways to avoid the risks of using free wi-fi hotspots
Free wi-fi in public places like restaurants, airports and accommodation outlets is a luxury that most of us have become accustomed to in modern society. Going to the mall and enjoying a cup of coffee at a popular café while making use of the free wi-fi seems to be the new norm. And everyone should be aware now of some of the dangers of the internet and how one’s online security is a priority. Hackers are using sophisticated tools and strategies to steal private data daily and as public wi-fi has no encryption, no special skills are needed by these criminals to hack accounts using it. There are in fact plenty of applications available out there that enable hackers who are spying on unsuspecting victims to do so with just a few clicks of the mouse.
In a public setting like a café, anyone with the password that connects to the free wi-fi network before you log in can spy on the communication that occurs between your device and the access point when you first connect to the hotspot. Attackers can steal your encryption key and see all of your traffic, even though your connection is encrypted. Hackers can also set up a fake wi-fi hotspot that looks legitimate. If you connect to it, your information will go straight through the attacker’s computer, possibly allowing them to see whatever it is that you’re doing.
Here are three ways to use free wi-fi hotspots without your privacy being compromised:
- Use https
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is the secure version of HTTP, the protocol over which data is sent between your browser and the website that you are connected to. This is a way to ensure that your connection is encrypted and is depicted with the little lock icon in the left corner of your screen.
- Use a VPN
A virtual private network (VPN), such as F-Secure’s Freedome VPN, creates a secure channel between your device and a proxy server that encrypts all traffic, even if the site you’re visiting does not support https.
- Spot the fake
Always confirm the name of the actual wi-fi hotspot with the establishment owners. This will help you to avoid connecting to a fake access point that has been set up by hackers.
You might think that you have nothing to hide, but the fact remains that you have everything to protect. Implementing these tips into your daily internet routine will directly contribute to your overall online security and are useful habits to embrace and be taken seriously.
