10 Important Tips To Remember When Connecting To Free Wi-Fi

Jan 01, 2019 by apost team

Free Wi-Fi can be a saving grace if you find yourself in an area with no cell phone reception or if you are trying to get work done away from home. However, there are serious dangers to your privacy when using free Wi-Fi. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to be sure to avoid leaking your personal information and becoming a victim of fraud when using free Wi-Fi.

Secure connections to websites include a URL starting with https:// as opposed to http:// without the added s. Most popular sites will provide you with secure connections but check with less safe websites when browsing on free Wi-Fi.

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Fake networks may cause you to be directed to sites that look very similar to the site you are attempting to reach. In fact, these sites are attempting to collect private information about you. Look for out-of-place characters in the website you are trying to connect to and use a secure web browser as they are usually programed to detect such fraudulent sites.

It can be difficult to keep track of separate passwords for many different accounts. However, if you keep a list of your passwords anywhere on your electronic devices they may be accessible to someone on the same free network as you. 

Two-stage authentication involves a Wi-Fi hotspot that will text message a code to your phone that must be entered to connect to the network. Using two-stage authentication helps you to avoid potentially fake networks that may have been duplicated by a hacker.

Not only does antivirus software warn you of potential fake Wi-Fi connections, keeping your software up to day assures that you have the best antivirus tactics for emerging hacking techniques.

Someone trying to access your personal information may use a Wi-Fi network name similar to one in their surrounding area. This is called a man-in-the-middle attack and if your computer connects to the attacker’s network they may gain access to your private information. To avoid this be sure to ask the owner of the free network for the specific network name and password before connecting.

Many of your Wi-Fi capable devices will automatically connect to networks that they have previously used. However, someone wanting to access your private information can easily create an access point with the same name which your device may automatically connect to, giving them access to your profile data and more.

Avoid this by forgetting any networks on your computer that you don’t remember or recognize. You can also use your Wi-Fi settings to not remember any unfamiliar networks so that it will not automatically connect to them in the future.

While you may only be visiting harmless recreational sites, you should avoid any online shopping that requires your bank or credit card information. If you are able to access your mobile data, it is better to access your bank account information through a banking app or enter your card information on a web browser on your cell phone which provides more security than public Wi-Fi has to offer.

A VPN is a service like ExpressVPN is a connection method that adds security and privacy to your web browsing. It routs your connection through a server and hides your online actions allowing websites you enter to see the virtual network IP address and not yours.

The easiest solution to avoid your private information being leaked through public wireless Internet is to turn Wi-Fi capabilities off for any devices that you wish to remain secure. Not only does turning off Wi-Fi capabilities protect your devices, it also saves on batter power by not having to continuously search for each new available network to potentially connect to.

Loss of privacy and personal information can be a devastating situation. Fortunately, these simple and quick tips could save you or a loved one from loss of privacy and even identity. So spread the awareness and happy surfing!