- Public Wi-Fi networks are mostly secure, but the risk is that we do not know who controls them or who is connected to them, so it is advisable to take all possible precautions
- Luckily, we have some tricks that will allow us to feel safe, in a private environment, when browsing the Internet, such as using sensitive information
As we return to the "New Normal" overcoming the coronavirus pandemic, it is becoming more common for us to reconnect to the Internet of others. If you usually connect away from home or the office, you should know these tricks that help you to be safe when browsing a public WiFi network , avoiding intruders in your browsing..
The fact is that as we begin to move more freely, the situations in which we will have to connect to public WiFi will multiply, and although it is something we did before confinement, even then we insisted on the need to be cautious when connecting to a strange network, such as those in bars .
What to keep in mind when connecting to a public WiFi?
Find out who is hosting you
One of the first steps, and perhaps the most important, is to make sure you know who hosts the WiFi access point you are using. For example, if you're connecting at a coffee shop, there will often be a sign with the WiFi name and password settings. And you can ask the host or a worker if you are not sure. Some local sites may use daily rotating passwords to prevent people from stealing the connection..
Use basic security
In these cases, there is nothing better than being cautious, and being cautious means that you activate basic security. Issues like two-factor authentication can make all the difference and it's best to enable these features.
On top of that, you have to set strong passwords, hard for anyone who wants to spy on you to guess . There are even firms like Samsung and Apple that make password management software available to the user. That may not completely protect you from phishing attacks, but it will help you avoid various problems..
On the other hand, keeping your devices updated is key to not facilitating security breaches .
If you can, stay on mobile data
Many of the current telephone plans put enough mobile data in the hands of users, and we cannot lose sight of the progress that 5G represents in this regard, although 4G LTE can also reach you.
To the extent that you do not require high Internet speed or a treacherous flow of data, you may have what you need with your mobile data. And as long as you are connected in this way, you will be very safe. In addition, there are manufacturers that allow mobile data to be sent to Windows or MacOS via cables .
What about VPNs?
Continuing with this review of tips for connecting to a public WiFi network, we must say that probably the best thing to do in these situations is to use a VPN, a virtual private network, that clears up any intrusion.
Most virtual private network providers are transparent about their encryptions and how clients connect to their servers . However, you should beware of those who do not seem honest.
Again citing the example of Samsung, we cannot lose sight of Samsung Secure WiFi , a virtual private network platform from the South Korean firm, which gives you up to 1 GB of browsing in secure environments.
Outside of it, if you have a mobile phone from another manufacturer, our advice is to make a small investment in a reliable VPN, which they are in most cases when they are paid , to stay calm.
This does not necessarily mean that VPNs are the perfect solution, but it does mean that they can provide a certain degree of secrecy for your Internet browsing, and make it more difficult for anyone who wants to access your personal data.
And remember that there are also mobile VPNs , be they iPhone or Android, to make use of those same benefits.
And you, what precautions do you normally take when connecting to a public WiFi network?