Nowadays, internet connection is already a basic necessity for man. Aside from being used for faster communication, the internet has been utilized for educational purposes, business, work and much more. The internet plays a vast role in the life of many individuals and that is making people's lives easier and better.
Of course, when we are talking about internet connection, many people really love connecting to free Wi-Fi hotspots. They enjoy the convenience of browsing the internet without thinking about the data charges that may apply from their mobile phone carrier. These free Wi-Fi hotspots can be found in coffee shops, restaurants, airports and even in train stations. However, doing so may cause harm to us. Your security might be put at risk.
Here are some possible things to consider when connecting to a public Wi-Fi:
1. Easily Accessed Networks Doesn't Have Much Protection In Place
A Norton-ordered research found out that 81 percent of people connected to these public internet connections have shared their sensitive personal data on unsecured networks. Some of the activities they usually do are online banking and accessing financial information.This is dangerous as there is not enough security in public networks.
When connected to a public network, it is best to avoid opening accounts, especially banks online. Also avoid shopping where you must input your address and credit card details.
2. There Are Dummy Networks That Are Created To Hack Into Devices
These dummy networks are said to be the most dangerous risk of a free Wi-Fi. These networks are commonly used in hijacking sensitive information such as e-mails, credit cards details and even the security identifications of a bank account.
The dummy networks look like a local public network. Once you are connected to this kind of network, you just laid all your information on your device bare in front of the hacker.
3. File Sharing In Devices Provides An Opening
To prevent people from transferring unwanted programs in your device, you must turn off the file sharing feature. By doing so, hackers cannot easily steal stored information.
4. Firewall Must Be Activated Before Connecting
Turning on the firewall on your computer can help you protect your device from unauthorized access to your stored information and prevent infection of viruses that can destroy your system.
Public internet connections are actually good services that we can freely use. Of course, nobody is saying that we should not connect to these networks because it is really risky. For the sake of safety and to prevent further problems that might arise in this kind of situation, we must be cautious and responsible enough in taking good care of our sensitive information.
