The use of public Wi-Fi can create security challenges that consumers need to be aware of so they can mitigate those challenges. The simple recommendation would be to just not use public Wi-Fi but that isn't reasonable so we are will examine safe practices.
The amount of vulnerabilities is dependent on how the network is setup but three common security issues on public networks are:
By following these tips you can reduce the risk associated with using a public network
What risks are involved with public Wi-Fi?
The amount of vulnerabilities is dependent on how the network is setup but three common security issues on public networks are:
- Packet sniffing: View browsing activity by reassembling packets sent over a network
- Malware distribution: Hackers can potentially send malware to your computer through existing vulnerabilities
- Man-In-The-Middle Attacks: Information sent over a network can be intercepted by someone with software monitoring traffic over the network
- Malicious Network: Sometimes hackers setup Wi-Fi networks using trusted names and are able to spy on users that join the network
Tips for using public networks safely
By following these tips you can reduce the risk associated with using a public network
- Validate the public network is legitimate by looking for official postings in the business and not relying on the network name
- Validate websites you are visiting use HTTPS as this ensures the data between you and the website is encrypted
- Use a VPN such as NordVPN to encrypt data leaving your device
- Avoid accessing sensitive information such as bank accounts of PII information while on the public network
- Turn off file sharing while using the public network
- Use 2FA for services that support it to reduce the impact of someone stealing your login credentials
- Forget the network after use so your device does not reconnect in the future automatically