At the hotel, at the airport or even at a train station. No matter where you are, public Wi-Fi networks are a convenient solution if you need to connect to the Internet while on the go.
However, the use of these free devices is not without risk to the security of your personal data due to its permeability to cyberattacks. For good reason, public Wi-Fi networks often offer lower levels of security than those provided in your home or workplace.
While some are password-protected, others, insecure, “are vulnerable to a number of techniques hackers can use to track users’ online activity, harvest their personal and financial data, or even gain access to their device,” Antonio Cesarano, product manager at Proton VPN, told Tech&Co. In addition, it is strongly recommended that you take certain precautions to ensure the security of public Wi-Fi networks.
The ideal tool to guarantee a secure connection on public Wi-Fi networks. VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are software to be installed on smartphones, computers and tablets that guarantee the confidentiality of your data thanks to the encryption protocol. This process consists of encrypting your data so that it cannot be used by anyone who might have access to it.
To do this, the service creates a private and encrypted tunnel from the connection to the public network that allows you to hide your IP address, your geographical location as well as all your activities on the Web (sending emails, online purchases, etc.). Selecting a good VPN provider to ensure that the selected tool guarantees the privacy of your data is a prerequisite. To do this, several key elements must be taken into account.
First, “VPN provider transparency and track record are critical. Some of them have long experience in security and privacy protection,” says Antonio Cesarano, who recommends going for independently audited and preferably 100% open source VPNs.
The country of domicile of the VPN service should also be used to guide your choice because the processing of personal data differs depending on the jurisdiction of the State where you are located. “For example, Switzerland is protected by some of the strictest privacy laws in the world,” says Antonio Cesarano, whose company, Proton VPN, is based in Geneva.
“When choosing a VPN provider, it’s important to check if they have a policy against logging customer data. This is not always the case with free VPNs, for example,” said Mihai Rida, Product Marketing Manager at Cyber Ghost VPNinterviewed by Tech&Co.
Finally, “you also have to take into account the features it offers. It is essential that companies and individuals have a fast VPN with strong security layers that protect them against malware and trackers”, lists Antonio Cesarano.
You can set your devices to automatically turn on Wi-Fi near saved networks. However, it is strongly recommended not to use this handy but insecure feature.
“Users should always know which network their device is connected to. The easiest way to do this is to disable automatic connections. Prevents your device from connecting to a compromised Wi-Fi network and exposing itself to risks without your knowledge. The same logic applies to Bluetooth, AirDrop and other file sharing services”, warns Antonio Cesarano.
Deleting the public Wi-Fi network you’re using when you end your connection also prevents your device from automatically connecting to the network later.
At an airport or shopping mall, it’s not uncommon to see multiple Wi-Fi networks with very similar names like “Airport_WiFi”, “Airport_Public_WiFi”, or “Airport_WiFi_Free”. However, “in this situation, it is highly likely that a hacker has created their own access point and is trying to pass it off as legitimate public Wi-Fi. If you connect to an access point controlled by a hacker, all your network traffic is visible to him”, warns Antonio Cesarano.
The best way to make sure it’s a legitimate network is to go to someone where you are and ask if they have free Wi-Fi and the exact network name and password.
Also be sure to make sure it’s protected with a strong password by looking for a little lock that’s supposed to appear next to the Wi-Fi network name.
If you don’t have a VPN available, go to sites that use the “HTTPS” protocol. The latter encrypts your connection and adds an extra layer of protection to your data.
In an unsecured network, “the best way to ensure that personal data is not compromised is not to visit websites that may expose this information,” advises Antonio Cesarano.
Consult the general conditions of use of the network
Mihai Rida, Product Marketing Manager at CyberGhost VPN, considers it essential to check the terms and conditions for using public Wi-Fi networks.
“Some of them are very broad. If you haven’t reviewed the privacy policy, you probably don’t know what you agree to share when you sign in. For example, does the privacy policy specify whether the provider will save, share, or even sell your personal data?” he asks.
Source: BFM TV
