3 Steps to Ensure Your Data Is Protected When Using Public Wi-Fi
3 Steps to Ensure Your Data Is Protected When Using Public Wi-Fi
If you're spending the holidays with family and friends, it goes without saying that keeping your affairs in order will prevent a good time from becoming a bad one.
In order to wait for a boarding call, check their banking, download a boarding pass or a COVID-19 vaccination card, almost every traveler who passes through an airport has most likely logged onto public Wi-Fi at some point during their journey. COVID-19, on the other hand, is not the only issue to be concerned about.
Many hackers take advantage of the holiday season to target individuals using public Wi-Fi, which is a favorite target of hackers year after year. Listed below are three suggestions to keep you safe online while you are on your holiday travels:
Maintain your data plan or get a VPN
By connecting to a public Wi-Fi network, such as that of an airport or a business, you put your information at risk of being stolen.
According to Paige Hanson, Norton LifeLock's Chief of Cyber Safety Education, hackers who use public Wi-Fi are hoping to catch an unsuspecting victim in what is known as a "man-in-the-middle attack," in which you believe you are connecting to your coffee shop's WiFi but are actually connecting to a criminal who is looking for your information.
Hanson advises taking a "good, better, best" approach to data protection while on the go in order to be as safe as possible.
She recommended connecting to a reputable public Wi-Fi network that provides a reasonable level of encryption for your data as a "good" approach. Hanson, on the other hand, suggested that using data from your mobile plan rather than a public Wi-Fi server in the area would be a better approach in this case.
"Using your data plan, as opposed to public Wi-Fi, provides a measure of anonymity," Hanson explained further. This reduces your vulnerability to a man in the middle attack because you are not unintentionally connecting to someone else's Wi-Fi network, which could be listening in on our conversations.
According to Hanson, there is no more effective defense than installing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) on your phone in order to encrypt your internet connection. Hackers will not be able to access your communications if you use a VPN.
Take Caution When Logging into Websites Or Apps
When it comes to cybercriminals looking to steal valuable information, your smartphone is by far the most lucrative target.
Hanson warned that some of the most widely used and relied-on apps are also some of the most valuable to a would-be cybercriminal if they can be compromised. The most popular targets include personal banking apps, which collect sensitive personal data such as social security numbers, as well as any other apps that collect sensitive personal data, such as credit card numbers.
As Hanson explains, "the most significant risk associated with using public Wi-Fi is that your activity is being monitored."
"As a result, your information, including your personal information, banking credentials, and the location of your holiday travel, may be stolen and used by others. Identity thieves could find all of this information to be extremely valuable."
The latest target for cybercriminals is health apps, which includes COVID-19 travel apps. According to Hanson, the level of security provided by these apps varies from developer to developer. She stated that, as with any other app that stores sensitive personal information, the best security is provided by those who use the most encryption and who keep their software up to date on a consistent basis.
It is always possible that there will be flaws, holes, or upgrades that these applications will be attempting to address, as Hanson explained. It is possible for hackers to steal your personal information when you upload these apps if the company that is issuing them does not adhere to [software] standards or does not make improvements, and if there is insufficient encryption.
When dealing with cybercrime, it is critical to remember the fundamentals of cyber hygiene at all times, as this is true in nearly every instance.
In response to changes in the operating system of a cell phone, numerous apps provide automatic updates. Make certain that you do not miss out on these updates by checking your inbox frequently. Avoid making any financial transactions online, particularly if you are not connected to a secure network, as this makes them easier for criminals to steal your information. Finally, only visit reputable websites and avoid clicking on any unknown links that may contain viruses or otherwise compromise your device's functionality.
Even if you are unable to update your apps right away, keep in mind the advice from earlier about using a VPN or your cellular data to protect your personal information while on the go.
Verify That You Are Connecting to The Correct Public Wi-Fi Network Before Signing In
As a method of avoiding signing into a compromised or trap network, this one is extremely simple, but it is one that is frequently overlooked.
Norton points out that while most people would not hesitate to sign up for the public Wi-Fi network at their airport's Starbucks, caution should be exercised because some of the most popular areas at an airport, including coffee shops, serve as gathering places for those looking to prey on the unsuspecting victim.
With Hanson's "good, better, best" options in mind, confirming with an employee that you've selected the correct public Wi-Fi network is a "good" option to take prior to signing into a public Wi-Fi network.
Although your phone may discover several deceptively similar networks at the same time, it's a coin toss whether you chose the safe network or walked right into a man-in-the-middle attack in the first place. Consulting with employees on-site, according to Hanson, reduces the likelihood of falling prey to any traps.
While you still have a risk with the security aspect [because] you're not certain of their security practices, at the very least you're connected to their Wi-Fi, as Hanson explains.
Hackers can be resourceful in gaining access to information by altering signs that display the name of a public Wi-Fi hotspot, but that is where your "better and best" options from earlier come into play, according to her.
