Public Wi-Fi networks can be scary. As someone using someone else’s public network, you have less control over network security.
There’s also the threat of people hacking and scanning in various ways to get your personal information when you access a public network.
Here are some of the best ways to securely connect and anticipate the danger of public network threats.
Look for HTTPS Connections
A connection with the protocol HTTPS is a more secure connection than the original HTTP, but that alone doesn’t fully protect you. It is, however, a good rule of thumb to go by in using public networks.
Consider a VPN
You can get various virtual private networks or VPN tools for your devices.
A VPN is basically an encrypted tunnel of information that helps to make sure that your data stays safe in transit.
People are using VPN services more, in order to shield their data from hackers and scammers, but also from other parties like ISPs and national governments.
But the VPN is a common practice for information security in business as well.
Use Mobile Devices
When you work through a mobile-connected network, you’re often more secure. Mobile information tends to be encrypted, whereas desktop to public Wi-Fi may not be. So this is another way to connect more securely and avoid the dangers of public networks in general.
Look Out for Unknown Networks
Another good rule of thumb is to analyze your public network choices to use networks that you’re familiar with.
Let’s take the example of a local coffee shop – the owners and proprietors often set up their own public network for visitors, and give you their own security passphrase to access it.
So when you see this network publicly identified in your list of available networks, you know that it’s legitimate, (or at least, you’re fairly sure) because it matches what the coffee shop owner has given you. You know that, as a general rule, the coffee shop people are going to have an interest in your data is secure. They may not do all of the network security that you would like, but they at least have good intentions for the most part.
What you have to watch out for are completely unknown networks with strange names that might pop up in a coffee shop, in an airport, or in some other public space. If you don’t know who set the network up, that network could be set up completely as a honeypot to trap unsuspecting users. It might be designed to steal your data!
Use Different Passwords
In using public networks, it’s also important to think about password security differently. Why is that? Well, if a hacker gets some of your personal information including a password, and that password is useful on 20 different accounts, the hacker already has access to 20 of your different accounts, instead of just one. There is no brute force attack needed because that one password unlocks all kinds of different sites.
Individual passwords are also a key part of knowing your customer or KYC practices for business. They’re useful in AML compliance systems and other security processes on the business side. But having better password hygiene gives you the upper hand against scammers, too.
Control Your Logins
On a public network, you don’t want to stay logged into a personal account when you leave. This is even more important when you’re using a public device, too. With the old-fashioned cybercafes, it was all too easy for someone to leave their account open for the next user, who could come along and take all kinds of personal data. For example, if you have your Social Security number in various emails and your email account is open, you’re vulnerable to having that piece of information stolen.
Don’t Access Financial and Personal Data in Public Networks
Here’s one additional tip for making sure that your data stays safe.
Simply, avoid going on to banking sites and other more closely controlled financial sites and accounts while you’re on the public network. Again, a mobile check could be a better way to go, security-wise, or you can wait until you get home or someplace where you trust a network more. That’s a key strategic way to think about Internet security in situations where you have a lot less control over security standards like WPA, etc.
Again, having better security practices built into sites is something that businesses look for with know your customer (KYC) policies or AML compliance efforts. But for you personally, and your personal information, carefully judicious use of public networks is very much a best practice. Use these tips to achieve better security with public wifi, and be more confident about how you use the Internet when you’re away from home.