9 Critical Dangers You And Your Data Face Every Time You Connect To Free Wi-Fi

May 29, 2018

As awesome as it is to be able to connect to a free wi-fi network when you're out of your home, these networks aren't always as safe and secure as people think they are.

While we certainly don't want to discourage you from bringing your laptop to your favorite coffee shop, there are certain things you need to remember whenever you connect to free wi-fi. 

If you must do any online banking or make a purchase with your credit card when you're away from home, make sure to do so using your mobile data on your smartphone. Entering this info over a public wi-fi connection is just asking for your data to be stolen. 

Turning off your wi-fi on your device will not only save on battery life, but it will prevent you from automatically and accidentally connecting to a fraudulent network. 

A VPN or virtual private network allows you to keep your IP private whenever you access the Internet. They do slow your device down somewhat and they usually aren't free, but the added bit of security they provide is worth the purchase. 

Most devices will remember a network and automatically log on after accessing it once. While this seems convenient, a hacker can trick your device into accessing a fraudulent version of the network and gain access to your private information. It's best to just turn this supposedly handy feature off. 

If a business has a free public wi-fi network, they should be able to tell you its name. Pay attention to how the network's name is spelled, and make sure that you're only accessing this network.

A good antivirus program will warn you of fake wi-fi networks, so find one and keep it updated. 

Most legitimate public wi-fi networks will require at least two actions to log on. This may seem annoying, but it provides an extra level of security. If you don't see a two-stage authentication process, don't log onto the network. 

Keeping your passwords encrypted is a must for anybody who regularly uses public wi-fi networks. Never write down your passwords. If you have trouble remembering them, make sure that any password manager you might be using is keeping them encrypted. 

Whenever you go to a website, take a look at the URL. If you see any strange characters or something else that you haven't seen before on a familiar site, stay away. While you're at it, make sure that any site you access has a safe connection. If you're not sure how to do this, look at the beginning of the URL. It should start with https:// instead of http://. 

This may sound like a lot to take in, but it is easier than it looks. In today's day and age, you need to pay attention to what you're doing with your laptop or smartphone, and be sure to spread the word to others who like to use free Wi-Fi.