How to stay safe on public WiFi?

How to stay safe on public WiFi?

There’s free public WiFi accessible? 4 out of 5 people will connect to it. And majority of them won’t even worry about security implications.

If you’re living a digital nomad life, working remotely from a cafe, waiting for your flight in an airport, or meeting up with a client or a business partner for lunch, security matters.

What can happen, and how to stay safe on public WiFi?

Risks associated with public networks

It’s tempting to connect to public WiFi networks because they are free. Yet, free might not always be the best choice when it comes to security.

“Public” does not only mean that everyone can connect and use it. It also means that cybercriminals might spy and intercept data sent on it. This can happen if a public network is unencrypted – and you can never know for sure if it’s encrypted. This way, any data that you enter or send over an unencrypted network can be seen and stolen.

One of the most common cybercrimes in public spaces is the man-in-the-middle attack. As the name suggests, it describes a situation when there is an intruder between your computer and the recipient of your data (e.g. a server). If a public network is poorly secured and unencrypted, these cybercriminals will exploit it. They can capture your login credentials, files, and other personal data.

That is the risk you should keep in mind before sending any sensitive data over a public WiFi network.

How to stay safe on public WiFi ?

Not all public networks are unprotected or unencrypted – some of them apply the highest security standards. Yet, your personal data is not worth the risk.

Here are 7 crucial tips to keep in mind on how to stay safe on public WiFi:

1. Treat every WiFi hotspot as insecure until proven secure. That is, you have to always be extra vigilant about what you do when connected, what websites you visit, what kind of data you type in and send via public networks.

2. Always look for an SSL certificate. Visit only the websites with a padlock in the browser’s address bar, or make sure the URL starts with “ HTTPS.” This certificate enables a secure, encrypted connection.

3. If you stand up to grab a coffee, take a meal, or visit a bathroom, never leave your devices unattended. This will protect you from both thefts and unauthorized access to your data. At the very least – lock your computer or other device while you’re gone, even if it’s just for a minute.

4. If you type or read something important or sensitive, look around to make sure there’s nobody behind your back. Although it is rare for someone to peek from behind, reading sensitive information in public places definitely warrants extra vigilance. Better to be safe than sorry.

5. Never connect to suspicious WiFi networks. For instance, if you see two networks available – “Starbucks_WiFi” and “Starbucks_Faster_WiFi”, one of them might be set up by a cybercriminal to capture your data. Pay attention and never trust an officially-looking WiFi name blindly.

6. If in doubt, always ask the staff which network to log in to. If available, always ask the personnel for a password to the secured network (if the place has one). This way, you will be sure it is an official, legitimate network.

7. If possible, never use websites that need your personal information. While you are connected to a public WiFi, don’t use websites that require logging in – social media, bank account, email, online shopping sites.

What if you need to type in data?

Unfortunately, there are no answers to the question “how to stay safe on public WiFi when entering sensitive data?”. There are no 100% secure ways to log in to your password manager or a bank account while connected to a public WiFi hotspot.

For this, we highly recommend switching to your mobile network on a mobile phone or sharing some mobile data with your laptop.

Also, if you have a password manager, pay attention to how the tool protects your data. Use only the software that encrypts your data and applies the highest cybersecurity principles (such as PassCamp). This way, none of your passwords or data will be sent in plain text (readable format), no intruder will be able to access it.

How to stay safe on public WiFi : Recap

Public WiFi can be a quick, free and safe way to use the internet while not at home. For it to be safe, your precaution and vigilance matter. As long as you treat every network connection, link, website, and surroundings with caution, your data should be safe.

If in doubt or need to log in to the accounts that store your private information, it is better to use your mobile network data for that.

Be vigilant and stay safe!