Public Wi-Fi: Not as safe as you think
Whether you’re looking to set up shop in a coffee house or unwind at a beachside bar, there’s one aspect that’s guaranteed to entice more customers: free Wi-Fi. The offer of free public internet is something most of us will never pass up on. A chance to save data whilst still going about my day-to-day? Perfect!
However, public Wi-Fi hotspots often serve as a pitfall, attracting unwitting victims towards a hacker’s cyber trap. It’s time to clue yourself in to the dangers you face every time you connect to public Wi-Fi.
What am I putting at risk by connecting unprotected?
Now that the world is starting to open up a bit more, we need to keep on our toes. Don’t let the craving for in-stadium matches let you neglect your digital security. High-density population areas that have access to public Wi-Fi are a hacker’s favourite playground.
The unfortunate reality with public Wi-Fi is that every business can see the financial draw of providing internet. With so many businesses indulging, there’s a severe lack of care when it comes to making sure that connection is secure. Public Wi-Fi needs to be maintained, or else any security loopholes will be thoroughly exploited by tech-savvy criminals.
Let’s say you want to sit down at a cafe and check your social media accounts. You open up your phone’s Wi-Fi settings and are met with a choice. Do you connect to ‘Coffeehouse_real_wifi’ or ‘Legit_coffee_house’? While it would be easy to find out the real Wi-Fi network in a quiet coffee shop, how about a packed pub on match day? Connecting to a fake Wi-Fi network could spell the end for your privacy.
Once you’ve connected to a dodgy network, you’ve opened up a fresh can of cyber worms. Now that the hacker has a direct link to your phone, everything is at risk. They can inject any number of viruses or malware to collect your data.
Banking credentials, social media accounts, any other kind of sensitive information are all in the hands of the hacker who walked straight through the door you left open when you connected to public Wi-Fi unprotected. Think about everything you have stored on your phone. Now think about the damage someone could inflict by using that data against you. The data can be used to bribe, blackmail, and coerce a victim into following a hacker's demands.
What can I do to protect myself?
NordVPN’s latest research shows that 26% of the British public feel safe when connecting to public Wi-Fi. It may not seem too bad, but, when a quarter of the nation still don’t see the dangers posed, our message isn’t clear enough. Here’s what you can do to prevent yourself falling victim to a fake Wi-Fi hotspot:
Double-check with staff. If you can, obtain the true network name and password from staff members.
Avoid online banking. It’s best to leave financial transactions at home or with a network you can guarantee is secure.
Turn your firewall on. Most laptops and computers have some form of firewall built in. Make sure it’s enabled before you connect to public Wi-Fi. It might be a placeholder protection but still works against some hackers’ tricks.
Turn off your Wi-Fi. Accidentally connecting to an infected hotspot while casually strolling past could result in a malware injection. Make sure your Wi-Fi settings are off when you’re out and about.
Invest in a VPN. Before connecting to a public Wi-Fi hotspot, make sure you’ve activated your VPN first. Now, all your data and activity is protected and sent through an encrypted tunnel. Good luck to any hacker brave enough to try and crack NordVPN’s encryption.
Ultimately, the responsibility falls on you. Training yourself to recognise the signs of a potentially bogus Wi-Fi network is the best way to prevent yourself ever falling victim. However, if your mind lapses, NordVPN is here to have your back.