We'll explain how hackers use public Wi-Fi to sneak into your accounts, and we'll walk you through the steps you should take to fly under their radar and browse safely whether you're at the airport, your mechanic's shop, or your favorite restaurant. The best way to beat a hacker is to think like one. Stay one step ahead by understanding how hackers and identity thieves try to take advantage of unsuspecting public Wi-Fi users.
Anytime you use public Wi-Fi managed by someone else, it's always somewhat unsecured. Unlike your home Wi-Fi , you don't know who else has the password, so you don't know who else might be on the network with you. For that reason, you should treat every public Wi-Fi network as potentially unsafe. Here are your hat and sunscreen equivalents for enjoying public Wi-Fi:. Firewalls and antivirus software can warn you of suspicious websites and files, and protect your system against hackers trying to get at your data.
Turn off all features on your phone, laptop, or tablet that allow your device to automatically connect with another device or public wireless networks. This includes file sharing, AirDrop, and printer sharing.
You want Wi-Fi that is secure, legitimate, and has as few users as possible. Look for a network that is password-protected, connected to a high-profile brand like Starbucks , and tied to a business with small square footage. Password protection and small square footage limit the traffic on the network, and high-profile brands are more likely to run a tighter network ship because they have more to lose from a hacking scandal.
If you want to avoid big airport Wi-Fi networks with lots of users, check out WiFox. It uses a crowd-sourced map to give you free public Wi-Fi spots and passwords for airport restaurants and lounges all over the world.
Purchase the app or use the website for free. Don't click on any pop-up windows asking you to install or download something in order to log on to free public Wi-Fi. Don't download anything from the web, and always avoid doing any system upgrades or updates while on public Wi-Fi. When possible, make sure every site you use has that little "s" for "secure" after the HTTP in the web address and the padlock symbol to the left.
Just like you limit your risk of catching a cold by avoiding the number of strangers' hands you shake in a day, you'll limit your exposure to public Wi-Fi danger by limiting the number of open networks you connect to. Be sure to click the "forget network" option on your network preferences once you finish using an open network. This will prevent your device from automatically connecting to it again without your permission. If you've made it through the do's and don'ts and you'd still like to take advantage of free public Wi-Fi hotspots, here are a few additional security measures you can take to protect yourself out in the public Wi-Fi jungle.
If you've decided public Wi-Fi is too risky and you'd like to avoid it altogether, here are a few safer alternatives for you to consider. MITM attacks can happen when a hacker is sharing a public network with you. Not always. VPNs are an effective protective measure for devices whose users may not be as vigilant about potential threats.
If you want to increase internet safety for kids, installing a VPN on their device is a good way to allow them to still access public Wi-Fi without running the risk of them accidentally being hacked.
VPNs are also good for keeping seniors safe online. About Contact Press Blog. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. This is not a guarantee. SafeWise is an independent review site. We may earn money when you click links on our site.
Learn more. On this page: How hackers use Wi Fi Secured vs. However, you can still enjoy public Wi-Fi networks if you take some safety precautions. These include Installing anti-malware software, never conducting financial transactions over public Wi-Fi, and subscribing to a VPN service.
If you want to find out more about how to protect yourself when using public Wi-Fi, read our full article below. Wi-Fi offers a wireless connection between different devices. Most of us use it every day. You might use it at home to print something with your wireless printer. You might use it at work to gain access to the internet network.
Or you might even use it in a restaurant to connect to their internet connection. The latter is a free public Wi-Fi network. This type of Wi-Fi connection poses the biggest treat to your privacy and safety. However, it would be good to protect your devices, regardless of the type of Wi-Fi connection.
You can read everything you need to know about the dangers of connecting to a Wi-Fi network. Moreover, this article describes the solution of a VPN and some additional protection measures you might want to take.
Free public WiFi is everywhere; in restaurants, on trains, at the airport. These free hotspots offer you the possibility to be connected to the internet anytime, anywhere, even during your holiday or when you are on the road. Want to quickly check your email or post holiday photos on social media while abroad? You can easily go to a beach bar and connect to their internet connection to read your email or book a flight. Hacking a public Wi-Fi network is very easy and it is important for your internet safety that you do not connect to every network.
While you are surfing, a hacker may be able to steal personal data that is used for identity fraud without you noticing. This is very easy and fast. It is important to be aware of the dangers of a public Wi-Fi network.
Below we will explain how your personal information is at risk of being hacked. We will discuss the different tactics that hackers use. You will read what threats there are to your data security when you use these different networks.
In this day and age, we all want to be connected at all time. Free public Wi-Fi networks offer us an easy way to stay connected when we are on the road. Hackers will go to a public space where there are a lot of people looking for Wi-Fi. They create a hotspot, offering free Wi-Fi to unsuspecting strangers.
Since there are no restrictions on the type of name you can give to a hotspot, hackers can use the names of mobile network providers. With these methods they hardly arise suspicion with the average passer-by. Moreover, if you login to Facebook or your email they will see your login information and your password. You can imagine what they can do with that information. Because this type of hacking is so easy and profitable a lot of criminals have started doing it.
This is why it is important to never connect to a public Wi-Fi hotspot without taking the proper precautions. Trustworthy networks where you have to enter a password might seems safer. Often there are a lot of people on these public networks, which increases the change that one of them has criminal intentions.
It has been shown time and time again that Wi-Fi networks have large security leaks. This is not necessarily the fault of the person who put up the Wi-Fi. Often these are general problems with the Wi-Fi protocols that have nothing to do with actions of the user. It is more likely that hackers will target larger networks as apposed to your home network.
Many different devices will be connected to a large public network at any time. Thus, a hacker can obtain more data at the same time.
A tactic hackers often use to intercept data from people in the same network is known as Man in the middle. It is a cyber attack where a hacker gets in between you and your online activities.
Hackers intercept communication and can capture and view incoming and outgoing data in this way. They can for example get between you and your online banking or between you and your work emails.
Another variant is the Man in the browser attack, where a hacker installs malicious software in your browser to intercept data traffic. This way, hackers can easily spy on a large number of systems. Cybercriminals sometimes use specific software programs to intercept data. With certain software it is possible to intercept packets sent over the network. These so-called packet sniffers are used by network administrators to monitor digital traffic to and from a company network.
It will not surprise you that hackers have also discovered these packet sniffers. They use this software to intercept sensitive information and engage in illegal activities. No public Wi-Fi network is absolutely secure—that depends as much on who's on it with you as who provides it—but in terms of relative safety, known quantities generally beat out that random public Wi-Fi network that pops up on your phone in a shopping mall, or a network operated by a third party that you've never heard of.
These may well be legit, but if any passerby can hook up for free, what's the benefit for the people running the network? How are they making money? There's no hard or fast rule to apply, but using a bit of common sense doesn't hurt. If you can, stick to as few public Wi-Fi networks as possible.
In a new city, connect to Wi-Fi in a store or coffee shop you've used before, for example. The more networks you sign up to, the more likely the chances that you'll stumble across one that isn't treating your data and browsing as carefully as it should be.
When you browse over HTTPS, people on the same Wi-Fi network as you can't snoop on the data that travels between you and the server of the website you're connecting to. Over HTTP? It's relatively easy for them to watch what you're doing. Be very wary of signing up for public Wi-Fi access if you're getting asked for a bunch of personal details, like your email address or your phone number.
If you absolutely have to connect to networks like this, stick to places you trust see above and consider using an alternative email address that isn't your primary one. Stores and restaurants that do this want to be able to recognize you across multiple Wi-Fi hotspots and tailor their marketing accordingly, so it's up to you to decide whether the trade-off is worth it for some free internet access. Again, sign up for as few different public Wi-Fi platforms as you can. Does your phone or cable carrier offer free Wi-Fi hotspots in your current location, for example?
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