An emergency warning has been issued for people who frequently connect to public Wi-Fi. Finding free WiFi at airports, train stations, coffee shops, hotels, etc. is such a relief.
However, it is important to realize that these connections are not always as secure as you think. In some cases, public Wi-Fi can be poorly secured and can be very easily exploited by hackers.
If you don’t take proper precautions, hackers can override your public WiFi’s lax security and spy on you, stealing your personal information and passwords. There’s even a risk that hackers will take over your online accounts.
Peppermonkey Media President Vincent Lachetta Jr. shared why you should think twice before connecting to public WiFi, highlighting all the ways to stay safe online.
What is the danger?
man-in-the-middle attack
A man-in-the-middle attack is when a hacker infiltrates a public network and views the data sent from connected devices to your WiFi router. “If Vincent was doing his banking online at the time, a hacker could see his passwords and account information. He could steal his credit card numbers, email address, and other personal information. ”.
Evil Twin Attack
If you’re looking for a public WiFi hotspot, you might find one that looks a lot like the right one. It may have a name such as “Free University Wi-Fi1” or “Station Wi-Fi234.” But if you use this clone instead of the correct network, you will be connecting directly to scammers and your personal data may be leaked.
Network infected with malware
According to Vincent, “Once a hacker infects your network, they can send software bugs to every device connected to your network. If a pop-up suddenly appears, it may contain an infected link. Please do not click as you may be in trouble.”
session hijack
If cybercriminals gain access to your device while you are browsing online, they can copy your data. They then hijack your browsing session and impersonate you. Then they can steal your money, personal information, or identity.
How can I stay safe?
Vincent shares some top tips for defeating scammers on public networks.
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Always use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) When using public WiFi. Encrypt all your data so hackers can’t see it.
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Use a password manager Prevent cybercriminals from seeing your passwords.
Vincent also says, “Never perform sensitive activities such as online banking while using free WiFi. If you absolutely must view your banking information, do so through an app that uses 4G. Please run it.”
But at the end of the day, Vincent’s simplest advice is: “Rather than risking public Wi-Fi, use your mobile data. The inconvenience of using up your data is nothing compared to what you’ll face if your personal information is stolen by fraudsters. ”
