As a leading cybersecurity company in Miami, we find it concerning that 69% of Internet users log into WiFi networks each week, and many assume that their data is safe. Unfortunately, the convenience of these networks comes with the drawback of security risks.
If you use public WiFi, we have a few recommendations for what not to do on these connections.
What Not to Do on Public WiFi
Any of the following activities should be avoided on public WiFi:
- DO NOT access any financial accounts. If someone is willing to hack into your accounts while you’re on public WiFi, they’ll be looking for critical information. Your financial accounts are the prime form of data that these attackers are searching for, so be sure that you never access your bank – or similar – accounts on these insecure networks.
- Avoid online shopping. You never want to shop online when you’re using an insecure network. Your credit card data will be transmitted over the network and can be intercepted. Even if the site is using SSL encryption, hackers can utilize many methods to intercept it before the encryption occurs.
- DO NOT log into your social accounts. It may be tempting to log into your social accounts, but you can easily have your credentials stolen. Hackers can “listen” for the data and hijack your sessions, allowing them to sign into your account without your knowledge. Often, these hackers will try to leverage this exploit to trick your friends or family into phishing scams or sending you money.
What Can You Do on Public WiFi?
If you need to use public Internet connections, you need to be cautious with your browsing. You can easily browse Google, look up movie times or do anything that doesn’t require you to log into an account or access accounts.
For example, you don’t want to access your:
- Employer accounts
- Shopping accounts
- Social media
- Etc.
Anyone may be listening to the traffic or even spoof connections. If you’re at a Starbucks, someone can create a “guest WiFi” network that you connect to and then “listen” to your traffic.
Sadly, victims of all of these attacks often don’t realize something is amiss until the attack is completed. You may be unaware that someone has access to your bank details for weeks, and by this time, it is often too difficult to rectify the issue.
Maintaining extreme caution when using public networks is crucial to keeping your data safe.
Quick fixes that you can use to secure your device(s) while using public WiFi are:
- Use a VPN service, a paid one that is known for its security
- Turn your phone into a hotspot and use it as your connection
Otherwise, you’ll want to avoid doing anything on a public connection if you need to exchange your credit card data or login information.
If you or your employees need to use public WiFi and want to keep your data safe and secure, our team offers cybersecurity in Miami and will help secure your devices for you. We'll make key recommendations to prevent data leaks and man-in-the-middle attacks from impacting you.