Do you believe public WiFi, which we quickly find in malls, airports, and cafes, is free? Technically, we don’t pay to use them, so in that sense, they’re free. But, sometimes, we pay a heavy price for using public WiFi. That price doesn’t come out of our pockets, but from our devices that we connect to the public WiFi.
One of the primary reasons our sensitive data falls into the hands of hackers is public WiFi. Not only this, public WiFi can pave the way for malware to creep into our devices.
One of the ways to connect to WiFi safely is to use encrypted WiFi hotspots provided by your internet service provider. For example, Xfinity internet users can access 20 million secured hotspot zones nationwide just by using their credentials. Plus, the Xfinity customer service is also helpful in resolving WiFi queries.
Apart from that, I have shared some safety tips below that should also help you stay safe when connecting your devices to public WiFi:
- Verify the Network You’re Connecting to
- Forget the Network
- Secured and Unsecured Networks
- Use a VPN
- Don’t Use Bluetooth While Connected to a Public WiFi
- Key Takeaways
Verify the Network You’re Connecting to
Consider this scenario: you come across a cafe where a signboard says “Enjoy free WiFi: Best Coffee Shop”. Ecstatic as you should be, you pull out your smartphone to find two WiFi networks: “Best Coffee Shop” and “Best Coffee Shop.”. If you look closely, you’ll find a complete stop in the second WiFi connection. This one hints that some bad actors after your data have craftily set up a malicious WiFi connection to gain access to your device’s data.
So, verify the available FREE network whenever you encounter something like this. For help, such as in this case, you can ask a café employee to find the proper connection.
Forget the Network
If there’s a café that you frequently visit, you must have connected your devices to the WiFi. This means that whenever you go there, your devices connect automatically!
While it’s convenient practice, it’s still hazardous. Using that network to access sensitive information could lead to a potential leak that hackers so desperately want. So, make sure to forget the network when you leave the café (or your usual public hangout) so that it doesn’t connect on its own.
Secured and Unsecured Networks
Public WiFis are, in general, unsecured networks. They are open to all and don’t require credentials to conect to. It’s best if you avoid connecting to them at all costs.
On the other hand, secured networks usually require a password for access. Be it in cafes, airports, or any public place, you’ll find multiple secured networks. Generally, secured networks are more reliable and safer than unsecured ones. Xfinity Internet, which was mentioned earlier, offers secured networks in public!
Nonetheless, once you don’t need the connection anymore, simply forget the network to avoid connecting to that network automatically again.
Use a VPN
A VPN is an excellent option to protect your device from possible data thefts. It creates a fake IP address for your device, disguising it from nearby hackers. When you’re connected to a VPN server, the data your device receives or sends passes through a designated server. It may be one of the reasons you feel a slightly slower connection, but every bit of your data remains safe on this server. Even if you’re connected to a public WiFi, passwords you enter or any activity on the internet will remain invisible to bad actors.
Note that there are a lot of free VPNs available online. However, the free versions often lack the security features of premium VPNs. So, it’s best not to take chances with free VPNs and always go for a paid one.
Don’t Use Bluetooth While Connected to a Public WiFi
Sharing files over Bluetooth when connected to public WiFi is not a good idea. Because if you’re connected to a public WiFi, hackers can use that as an entry point to exploit your data. Additionally, sharing files over Bluetooth gives them another entry point to steal your data. There are two common ways hackers barge into your device via Bluetooth;
- Bluebugging – A method that hackers use to hijack another device by installing malware.
- Bluesnarfing – In bluesnarfing, hackers wirelessly connect to your device without your knowledge. Once they connect, every bit of data stored in your phone is at the hacker’s mercy.
Key Takeaways
- Try not to share delicate data over open WiFi.
- Learn to distinguish between secured and unsecured networks. It’s best if you only connect to ISP-backed hotspot zones.
- Never send or receive files over Bluetooth while using public WiFi.
- Forget the network as soon as you don’t need it anymore.
- A VPN can help secure your data when connected to public WiFi.
