Understanding the risks associated with using public WiFi

Free public WiFi can be found in just about every cafe, restaurant, airport, and hotel these days. Unfortunately, few consider or even understand that these networks are often unsecure. That means that if you’re doing something that requires you to enter a login ID and password you need to be extremely careful.

Let’s take a look at some of the risks associated with using public WiFi.

Public WiFi Risks

Networks without encryption

When you use public Wifi you run the risk that the network you’re using isn’t encrypted. That means that information traveling between yourself and the router isn’t secure and can be read by anyone who knows how to read it. Routers usually come with their encryption turned off.  Do you know if it has been turned on?  Did the person who set up the network even know enough to turn it on?

Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) eavesdropping

This is just as the description suggests.  Someone exploits an unsecured network to eavesdrop on what you’re sending from your computer to a website or other service. In other words, you may believe that what you’re doing is private, but it isn’t. Someone could be watching you.

Malware

Unpatched software is a real, but often overlooked problem. Always keep your software and operating system up to date as unpatched, outdated software leaves you vulnerable to malware. A hacker spots the vulnerability and uses it to install malicious code on your device.  Using outdated software on an unsecure public WiFi network is just asking for trouble.

Rogue hotspots

Cybercriminals set up rogue hotspots in order to steal your sensitive information. They do this by using names that closely resemble the legitimate hotspot upon first glance. In other words, it looks like the real thing, but isn’t. For example, if the cafe you’re sitting in is called Joe’s Diner you might see the hotspot “JoesDner”, It looks like the one you want, but upon closer inspection fails the test.  If you’re unsure whether you have the right hotspot double-check with someone to make sure.

Sniffing

An unencrypted public WiFi network can be a veritable playground for cybercriminals using special software called “packet sniffers” to see what you’re doing online. Packing sniffing is basically the network equivalent of wiretapping and when you’re using free public WiFi you’re at risk of being victimized by it.

Stay safe: Use a VPN

Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the best way to stay safe when using public WiFi and PC Mag has just come out with its 2018 recommendations for VPN services.

Other things you can do to protect yourself:

• Avoid sites that aren’t using HTTPS. For more information check out What is HTTPS?
• Log out when you’re done using an account.
• Make sure that file sharing is disabled.
• Don’t log in to networks that aren’t password protected.
• Don’t allow your WiFi to automatically connect to networks.
• Don’t enter sensitive information into an app. Go to the website instead and verify that it’s using HTTPS.
• Turn off WiFi or Bluetooth when you’re done using them.
• Don’t log in to any website that contains sensitive information. Banks, for example.