Show Even if you don’t have your own network to secure, you can be more secure with how you use Wi-Fi networks.
If you have to connect to a public Wi-Fi network try to choose one that is encrypted. Yes, it does require a bit more work to connect because you’ll usually have to find and enter the password but it’s important to have that level of security, especially in a public place. You can usually tell the encrypted ones because they say "secured" or something similar, and may have an icon indicating they're secure. Open networks will usually say "Open" and may have an icon indicating they're insecure. If you’re connecting to public Wi-Fi be sure not to select “Connect automatically” or “Remember this network”. Though it’s certainly convenient, you don’t want your device to connect to public Wi-Fi networks automatically. Why? Because of how “Remember this network” works. When you tell your device to remember a Wi-Fi network it will constantly watch for that network. If you’re walking down the street, and your device is on, your device is continually looking for one of the remembered networks. When a remembered network appears, your device will try to connect to it automatically. The way your device sees Wi-Fi networks is by their SSID, which is basically the Wi-Fi network’s name. However, you can configure most Wi-Fi routers to broadcast any name you want. You can set your Wi-Fi router’s SSID to be “Joe’s House” or “Contoso Electronics” or…“Free_ORD_Wi-Fi”, which is the SSID of the real Wi-Fi network at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. If you've been through an airport, connected to the airport's free Wi-Fi, and allowed your device to “remember” that network, when your device sees a router, any router, that has the same SSID it’s going to try to connect. Once it’s connected it will start sending and receiving traffic via that router. It could sign into social media (transmitting your username and password), your email, your bank, really any apps you have open on the device may start communicating through that network. Even though that network may not be the legitimate network. Almost every public airport has Wi-Fi. So do all the big hotel chains, coffee shops, shopping malls, grocery stores….and these SSIDs are all publicly known. Cybercriminals know those SSIDs too and they can deploy Wi-Fi routers with fake SSIDs to snare unsuspecting passersby. Never allow your device to connect automatically to any Wi-Fi network that you don’t control. That’s fine for tomorrow, but what about yesterday? If you’ve had your device for a while there may be a long list of networks you've connected to in the past, which are already remembered. All devices have a way to manage that list. If you do an internet search for your device and how to “forget” or manage wireless networks you should find instructions. Go through that list and remove any wireless network that you don’t control. Yes, we know that means you’ll have to sign into the coffee shop Wi-Fi each time – but in this case the risk can outweigh the convenience.
Tip: Another way to be safer is to turn off the Wi-Fi on your device when you’re not using it. Bonus: You’ll use less battery not having your Wi-Fi on when you’re just walking or driving around. If you have to use a public Wi-Fi network you should consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A virtual private network creates an encrypted “tunnel” between your device and a server out in the world. The server could be one your company controls, or perhaps a 3rd party service that you subscribe to. All of the traffic inside that tunnel is encrypted, so if you’re using a public Wi-Fi network an attacker may be able to see that a VPN tunnel has been established but the content flowing inside that tunnel would be hidden from them.
Tip: A VPN can add security to any network connection, even the encrypted ones, so it’s a good habit to have even on networks you think are secure. The VPN service you’re using will tell you what you need to do on your device to connect to them. Another option, if there are no secure networks available, would be to use the data from your mobile carrier like you do when you're not on Wi-Fi. Some laptops now include a built-in LTE radio that can connect to your mobile carrier for data over 4G or 5G. Or you may be able to use your smartphone as a personal Wi-Fi hotspot. If you have that option it should be more secure than using an open Wi-Fi network, though it might be slower and if you get charged for data or have a data cap you’ll want to keep that in mind.
Your internet connection is a way for you to interact with the outside world, but it also provides a channel into your computer. If your internet connection isn't secure someone may use it to steal your personal or financial information for malicious purposes. Public Wi-Fi 'hotspots' in places like cafés, airports, hotels and libraries are convenient, but they can be risky. Tip: Avoid sending or receiving valuable or sensitive information when connected to public Wi-Fi networks.
Remember: If you don’t take steps to protect your internet connection and network, they could be used illegally and without your knowledge.
Use this guidance to learn how to use public Wi-Fi networks safely. |
What is required to access a public wi-fi network using your computer or smart device?
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