With the growing of WiFi technology on the sphere, users have saw an entirely new dimension in this widely accepted technology.
Before Wi-Fi’s advent, the internet connection could be leveraged by only a single computer, it was only after WiFi was introduced that the concept of using a single internet connection for multiple computers and peripherals came into existence.
This development has no doubt given a significant boost to productivity and business gains but along has also made way for the threats of security breach. While it is used in private places such as in homes, it can be termed as safe but for public places like hotels, airports, cafeterias, you need to take an extra care to evade any sort of intrusion.
How To Protect Your Digital Data While Using WiFi in Public Places
It is no doubt it’s risky to use WiFi networks such as hotspots in public places. Whether you are in a restaurant, hotel or any other place, extreme care is desired to make sure that your digital data remains safe and secure.
However, it is a fact that the technology of wireless networking is not meant for public use, yet you can adopt certain effective measures to maintain confidentiality of your data and online communication even in public places. Below are some of the important points that are worthy to be considered in this context:
1. Lookout for a Reliable Access Point (AP)
Although rare but important is to assure that the network that you use in a public place is legitimate. There are certain networks such as T-Mobile or Wayport that offer multiple users with the same SSID which is known as an open invitation to the hackers / intruders. They may collect your user-id and passwords for fraudulent purposes.
2. Don’t Let the Networks to Connect Automatically
Set the ‘connect automatically‘ in Wi-Fi settings on your laptop, tablet or mobile device to off. Check out the list of available connections and use the one that you think is most secure. Turn off the Wi-Fi card as soon as you complete your work.
3. Choose for Secure Browsing, Communication and Emailing
- Make sure that the website you open have SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). To check for this authenticity, you can assure if the browser displays significant notifications such as green address or pad lock image. The most important thing, the URL should include HTTPS instead of HTTP.
- Use SSL encryption for email client as well that run over IMAP, SMTP or POP3 protocol.
- Use SSH protocol and not just any other protocol especially if you are connecting to a computer remotely (remote desktop facility)
4. Use the Best Anti-Virus:
While using internet at home or at work place, you often need not to worry about security, the respective firewall takes care of that. But of you working in some unknown place, aloof of your identified places, the security of your digital data is at serious risk. Hence, to avoid any intruder to hack your privacy, installing latest anti-virus / updated antivirus could be possible option.
Simultaneously, it is equally important that you keep on updating the software through their websites or with the help of the concerned customer care team. You just cannot imagine the speed with which malware, worms and the harmful viruses sprawl and affect your computers.
5. Use Virtual Private Network (VPN):
One of the most valid and trusted way to protect you from breach of security while using a Wi-Fi in an unknown place is to use VPN (Virtual Private Network).
VPN uses the capabilities of a public network to create a private network that cannot be accessed by any third-party intruder. It achieves this task by establishing a virtual tunnel between the two endpoints.
Seeking the services of a VPN is as safe and secure as if you are using your home network. An array of VPN service providers can be contacted who can help you access the internet in total anonymity via Wi-Fi, you can choose the best one among them as per your budget requirements and suitability.
DNSCrypt is another good tool to use.. http://www.opendns.com/technology/dnscrypt/