Finding a good, free public Wi-Fi is like hitting the jackpot. Usually it’s fairly safe to use, so you can go ahead and tag yourself into that bar on Facebook without any worries, and without using up your mobile data!
However, while the business providing you with the Wi-Fi may be totally trustworthy, you can’t assume that every other USER that you are sharing the network connection with is trustworthy.
That does NOT mean you need to avoid public Wi-Fi – like anything you do online, you just need to be aware of a few safety rules to protect yourself and your personal information:
- Stick with browsing for fun. Never access your banking or do any shopping online that requires you to add your bank details.
- Check your phone settings so that it always checks in with you before connecting to a network. This will stop you from automatically connecting or reconnecting to public wi-fi.
- If If you’re using a laptop, make sure your security software is up to date before connecting
- Ideally, you should only connect to Wi-Fi that has a password or a sign-up process with a trustworthy company. This reduces the risk that the connection has been ‘hacked’.
- Confirm the name and password with staff before connecting. They’re rare, but hackers have been known to set up fake networks near to cafes and bars with similar network names (known as ‘honeypots’). Connecting to these networks could leave you vulnerable to hacking.
- If coffee shops are your office, then you may be better off investing in portable, personal Wi-Fi device for a secure connection (Telitec can help you there!)
- Treat your devices like an ATM – you wouldn’t let someone watch you put your pin in, so protect your passwords from prying eyes!
