"Free WiFi network " you should avoid.
When you are accessing the WI-FI from your home through your own Wi-Fi ( paid ) account, its provide you secure connectivity and not congested also. But when you enjoy through public Wi-Fi network, maybe from local Tea shop, etc.- then will suggest you not to connect using those public networks.
There is a possibility that anyone
nearer to you can access your information, while using the same. Today’s
Wi-Fi network standards are having a flaw and should not be trusted.
This is having the maximum threat, hackers can position
themselves between you and the connection point. You are selecting the hotspot
thinking its protected, instead of talking directly with the hotspot
unknowingly you end up sending your information to the hacker. The hacker having
access to every piece of information you send like emails, phone numbers,
credit card information, business data, take anything you are connecting through
free wifi. Once hacker gets that
information, you’ve basically given them the keys to the empire.
Any free things are very attractive to anyone and people start
using free Wifi, despite getting
warnings, and efforts to educate them. Many people still don’t understand that free
WiFi is a very dangerous irrespective of what you’re doing online. You may
think that your not accessing your personal data like email or logging into your bank account, and just checking the social network or news
channels, remember anything you do on a public WiFi network is vulnerable and
not advisable. You are open to share the data to hackers.
In such cases what you should do if under any
urgency you need to use the free Wi-Fi network. What are the safety measure you
should take?
Avoid
opening personally identifiable information (PII) or your critical data,
When you are using your device connectivity through a free public Wi-Fi network then, you are not serious about your data valuation. However, if you forced to use a public Wi-Fi network, avoid touching any PII including
banking information, social security numbers, home addresses, etc. Sometimes, some
accounts require you to enter your phone numbers when you doing sign up, try to
avoid such operation while in the free Wi-Fi zone. To open in such a condition you should
have a VPN connection.
What is VPN ? and Why you should use a VPN?
Why Virtual
private networks (VPN) you should use?
What is VPN ( Virtual Private Network) technology? This creates a secure tunnel, point to point to
your destination connecting through the internet. This VPN allows you to create a
secure connection to a public network over the Internet. VPNs can be used to
access region-restricted websites, they provide protection for your browsing
activity. VPN is an excellent alternative to public Wi-Fi networks. VPN minimum
cost will worth you and give peace of mind with additional security. The organization used a VPN for their employee to connect remotely. Employees use this on the move
and Wi-Fi networks for their jobs through
VPN, because it gives protection to the company’s data, alternatively it’s a high
risk, if it's used through free WiFi without VPN. If you do not have any VPN
then you should use an SSL connection.
What is an SSL connection?
If you don’t have access to a VPN connection then you
can ensure using SSL connections. SSL technologically gives us also protection
to secure your connection. SSL provides a layer of encryption to your
connection. When browsing the internet, you should not forget to enable this through
“” HTTPS". Means whenever you are browsing add “ HTTPS” option on
websites that you are trying to browse. Maximum websites are using this.
Purchase an unlimited data plan,
Maximum people always get encouraged to use free
public Wi-FI network, to save themselves from excess charges on their phone
bills. But your mobile is also vulnerable and likely to be attacked as your
laptop, In fact, with the WPA2 flaw mentioned that Android mobile devices were
found to be the most vulnerable. Invest in an unlimited data plan will not only
provide a secure WiFi networks, but it will also allow you to use your mobile
device to create a personal internet hotspot, like a VPN connection.
Kee your file sharing OFF, Do you really require
to keep the sharing option ON always when connecting to the internet at public
place like on the road at the airport? I think it's not require to keep ‘ON “ at
that time. File sharing option is very easy to turn off from the system
preferences or control panel, depending on your Operating System, Or let Windows turn it off for you while
choosing the "public" option for the first time you connect to a
new, unsecured network.
Days may come when there will be only option is an
unsecured, free, public Wi-Fi hotspot, and your work simply cannot wait for the
security concern. In that case, considering the risks of public Wi-Fi you have to
connect your device. However above steps are simple, easy, relatively cheap, and
could save you from massive amounts of data theft both at home and at work.
NextRead Data Protection: Why data protection is important
Next Read ISO Standard
Next Read ISO Compliance
Next Read Information Security Policy
Next Read What is ISMS
