Wah, this neighbourhood is so good got people providing free Wifi!
Think again, nothing is ever free especially when talking about the Internet connection. It is so easy to steal email IDs and passwords that even a primary school student would know how to do it.
It is a called man in middle attack, meaning between you and the internet is the hacker. How it works is when you’re entering your password to your emails the free wifi intercept this information before it reaches the email website.
So what can we do when connecting to public wifi?
public wifi is often my only option. Although it’s convenient, I’m always aware of the potential risks that come with it. Public wifi can be a hacker’s playground, and if I’m not careful, my email, banking ID, passwords and other sensitive information could be at risk.
Public wifi networks are not secure and can be easily breached. To make matters worse, these networks are often unencrypted, allowing anyone with enough technical knowledge to access my data or even hijack my device. It could be someone in the same cafe as me, or it could be a hacker located thousands of miles away.
To protect myself, I always make sure to use a virtual private network (VPN) when I’m accessing public wifi. A VPN creates a secure tunnel between my device and the network, encrypting my data and making it much harder for a hacker to intercept it. It also hides my IP address, making it difficult for someone to track my online activities.
I’m also careful to avoid public wifi networks that require me to log in or submit my personal information. These networks may be convenient, but they’re also a prime target for hackers. By entering my data, I’m essentially giving a hacker all the information they need to access my accounts.
When I’m using public wifi, I also avoid logging into my most sensitive accounts, such as my bank or email. If I absolutely have to access these accounts, I make sure to use a secure connection and double-check the website’s URL to make sure it’s legitimate. I also try to clear my browsing history and log out of my accounts when I’m finished.
I’m also mindful of the type of information I’m sending over a public wifi network. I’m careful to avoid sending sensitive data, such as credit card numbers or bank account details, as this could easily be intercepted by a hacker. I also make sure to use strong passwords for all my accounts and enable two-factor authentication when possible.
Although public wifi can be a convenient way to access the internet, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks. By following these tips, I’m able to stay safe while accessing the internet on public wifi networks.