When using public Wi-Fi, you may be putting your and your clients’ personal information at risk.
Public Wi-Fi is never secure, says Michael Gargiulo, CEO at VPN.com. Hackers use fake public Wi-Fi networks, along with openly posted Wi-Fi passwords, to break into devices to access that network. The data you send and receive can be intercepted, exploited and resold.
Gargiulo offers the following tips to more securely use public Wi-Fi, including:
- Disable sharing: Disable sharing on all devices before connecting onto public Wi-Fi. On a Mac, disable it by accessing System Preferences. On a Windows device, shut off sharing via the Network and Sharing Center. Without sharing disabled, other users on the same network could potentially access your files and download them. You wouldn’t even know that it happened.
- Update your software: Many updates contain important security patches, so don’t fall behind on software updates. For example, Apple released an update in late March that contained security patches for a new bug that can trigger iOS devices to restart after receiving a malicious SMS text message. Android recently released an update with security patches, too.
- Use a VPN: Consider using a virtual private network if using public Wi-Fi. These are private, encrypted networks that you log into from your connected device. The information you send and receive from the network is encrypted on both sides and this can protect your data from being accessed by third parties.