In this space given, I’ll write about public Wi-Fi. In this age of technology, we find ourselves associated with our mobile phones, laptops, etc. and the only way to get our work done is the internet. We rely on the internet completely for our work. With every passing day, the role of the internet is becoming more intense and we can’t deny that this has made our lives easier. We access our internet but we also make use of public Wi-Fi as the need demands. Using a public Wi-Fi is easier but the things that come along with it make us wonder if it is safe to use public Wi-Fi.
We can find free Wi-Fi in almost many places viz. malls, airports, railway stations, etc. and many of us make use of it without just thinking about the consequences. As we love free goodies, we love free Wi-Fi. But we sometimes, forget about the fact that free goodies are way better than free Wi-Fi. We fail to realize that free Wi-Fi is not secure. On accessing public Wi-Fi, it does need a password but that doesn’t mean at all that it’s secure from hackers. Without protection, one must not use public Wi-Fi at all. For using Wi-Fi safely, you must keep in mind the following points:
The first point would be to verify the network. You can ask about the network and verify it by asking an employee of the mall, airport, etc. to be more secure you may also ask for the IP address. Hackers are clever to make a false network but you must be cleverer to verify them. Also, make sure to turn off the sharing option.
Secondly, you must use a Virtual Private Network, commonly called a VPN. This keeps your information secure whenever you use any public Wi-Fi. This acts as a protective tunnel between you and the server. Also, VPN conceals your actual IP address. Say, for example, you are in India and the VPN shows that you are somewhere else. Of course paid VPNs are most secure such as Ivacy VPN, IPVanish, PureVPN, ExpressVPN to name a few.
If you don’t have a VPN then you must visit only the encrypted sites. If any website address begins with https or padlock symbol, then you can be sure that you are in an encrypted site.
The firewall must be enabled or turned on. If you do so, your system will be protected from external access (by hackers). The firewall protects not only your system but also secure your data from attack by hackers.
Use an antivirus. This detects malware and keeps you safe.
Never do any transactions over public Wi-Fi. This is a big no.
Also don’t give too much information if you’re asked for. Cross-check your activities and make sure that you’re falling prey to hackers.
While accessing to public Wi-Fi, make sure that your Bluetooth is inactive. If your Bluetooth is on then I must say you are a risk.
If you ask me about my view on using Wi-Fi then I would say, you must not use a public Wi-Fi because it is relatively less secure. Of course, you can try the aforementioned methods to make yourself safe but still, it is advisable to not use them.
I hope this article helps you out. Cyber-security is a very important issue at present. You must understand the pros and cons of it. Be smart enough to use it and smartest enough to understand the risk of it, if not used properly.
