how to stay safe on public wifi

Internet access isn’t usually a problem when you’re in your own home – it’s secure, easy to connect, and uncrowded – unless you’re logged into multiple devices. When you travel, it’s a different story. You can access Wi-Fi in more places than ever, allowing you to stay in touch or work wherever you are, but connecting isn’t as easy or secure as it is at home network. That is why we this article is deliberately informing you on how to stay safe on public wifi. It is better to be safe than sorry.

A public Wi-Fi network is less secure than your private network because you don’t know who set it up or who else is connecting to it.

But for those times when that’s not good or even possible, you can use a few simple steps to reduce the damage of public Wi-Fi.

how to stay safe on public wifi

1. Know who to trust

Whenever possible, stick to reputable networks, for example reputable stores. These Wi-Fi networks can be suspicious because the people and companies that run them are making money off of you.

No public Wi-Fi network is perfectly secure – it depends on who you’re with as a provider –

but in terms of security, a number of well-known public Wi-Fi networks beat the randomness of shows on your phone and your phone a store or network of third parties that you have never heard of.

These people may be right, but if anyone can connect for free,

• what is the benefit to those who run the network?
• How do they make money?

There are no hard or fast rules, but using a little common sense doesn’t hurt. If you can, use as few public Wi-Fi networks as possible.

In a new city, connect to Wi-Fi in a shop or cafe you’ve been to, for example.

The more networks you sign up for, the more likely you are to find one that doesn’t handle your data as well as it should.

2. Connect to HTTPS

The browser lets you know when the site you’re visiting uses an encrypted HTTP connection rather than an encrypted HTTPS one by calling the first “Not Secure”. heed this warning, especially on public Wi-Fi.

When you’re browsing with HTTPS, people on the same Wi-Fi network as you can’t spy on the data going between you and the server of the website you’re connecting to. over HTTP? It is easy for them to see what you are doing.

3. Don’t give too much information

Be careful when signing up for public Wi-Fi access if you are asked for a bunch of personal details, such as your email address or phone number. If you must connect to such a network, stick to trusted sources (see above) and consider using an email address other than your original address.

Stores and restaurants that do this want to be able to identify you across different Wi-Fi hotspots and plan their marketing accordingly.

It’s up to you to decide if this trade-off is worth it for free internet access.

Also, sign up to as few public Wi-Fi platforms as you can.

Does your phone or cable provider offer free Wi-Fi hotspots in your current location, for example?

If you can log in through the service you’re registered with, it’s best to give your details to another business.

4. Limit AirDrop and file sharing

When you’re on a public network surrounded by strangers, you’ll want to disable features that make file sharing seamless across your devices.

• On a PC, this means going to “Network and Sharing Center”, then “Change advanced sharing settings”, then “Turn off file and printer sharing”.
• For Mac, go to “System Preferences”, then “Sharing”, then select All. Next, go to “Finder”, click on “AirDrop” and select “Let me detect: nobody”.
• For iOS, just search for “AirDrop” in “Control Center” and turn it off.

And wherever you go! No one nearby can intercept your files or send you unwanted ones.

5. Check what you are signing up for

We know we may be saying this for free, but read the attached terms and conditions before connecting to public Wi-Fi. You may not always understand every word, but you should be able to spot red flags, especially around what kind of data they’re collecting on your session and what they’re doing with it.

If you find that the related policies are unclear, a quick web search should turn up any known issues or problems other users have had.

Of course, there is nothing terrible about the terms and conditions – they also help protect the Wi-Fi provider – but do not just click on the pop-up screen shown to you.

And if they ask you for any private information, or want anything to do with your browser, you need to think twice.

6. Use a VPN

Does VPN protect you on public wifi?

By far the most effective trick to stay safe on public Wi-Fi is to install a VPN or virtual private network client on your device.

It encrypts the data going to your laptop or phone, and connects you to a secure server, making it difficult for others on the network, or anyone working on the network , to see what you are doing or add your comments.

Not all VPNs are created equal, and some are happy. It’s definitely worth paying for the service, since it’s likely that a free solution will have to be backed up by questionable marketing or avoidable data collection practices. good.

Of course, connecting to a VPN is usually easy, and once you download the client for your provider of choice, it will walk you step by step through the process whether you are on mobile or desktop.

If you surf a lot and connect to many different networks, a good VPN is worth investing in.

7. Use 2-factor authentication

Many websites that handle sensitive information use a security feature called two-factor authentication (2FA).

This is a two-factor authentication method that works with your password. It uses a special app on your phone or text message to send you a unique code when you enter your username and password.

If a hacker manages to steal your login details, they can’t log in without this 2FA code.

Final Thoughts

A lot of security needs depend on old and outdated software, so make sure you patch the latest software on your laptop or phone before you go out. You must have a deliberate plan on how to stay safe on public wifi of you are a regular consumer of the same.

Also, don’t download or install anything new on public Wi-Fi unless you absolutely have to. Also, the best way to avoid security issues with public Wi-Fi is to not use it at all – consider downloading videos and music for offline access before leaving home, for example, or using your smartphone’s hotspot function instead.

If you want to get online, the steps mentioned above should increase your chances of staying out of trouble.