How to use Public wifi Without Putting Your Security at Risk?

Since technology has come to a point where everyone can effortlessly communicate with people all over the globe, people continuously find new and refreshing ways to do so. Wifi or wireless fidelity has given mobile devices a chance to connect to the internet without the burden of carrying an entire internet modem with them. Add on to that is that most shopping malls and coffee shops offer free wifi; you can communicate with people from all over the globe even if you’re sipping a lovely cup of coffee from Starbucks. You might even consider that the convenience that a public wifi service offers might seem too good to be true. And that is where you’ll be right – as using public wifi might also open you up to a whole world of pain that started from the internet. 

Public wifi: a double-edged sword

Though public wifi might be able to help you send out your e-mails and messages even if you aren’t at the comfort of your own home, they might still prove to be more dangerous if you continuously use it over the long run. Since most public wifi system tends to be insecure, a hacker can quite quickly help themselves to your information if you aren’t careful enough. Additionally, a hacker can easily position themselves between you and the connection point – which would ensure that they could help themselves to your data. Moreover, connecting to a public wifi system can also allow hackers to pass files riddled with malware to your device. 

Though most establishments are working to provide their customers a better, risk-free public wifi, the fact that these are still relatively unsafe means that people would instead connect to their hotspot rather than public wifi. 

X Ways To Protect Yourself When Using A Public wifi

Though the facts mentioned above might deter you from connecting to public wifi, worry not – there are always some things that you can do to lessen the threat your way. 

1. ) Limit file sharing

You can limit the risk of receiving a malware-riddled file by limiting file sharing to your device. Though it might seem like a bad idea, trust us – it’s more than worth it in the long run. 

For Android devices, all you have to do is to turn off your Bluetooth service. For iOS devices, turn off your AirDrop by finding your device’s Control Center. If you have a laptop, all you have to do is open up the Network and Sharing Center and click the Change advanced sharing settings. Afterward, you have to click turn off file and printer sharing. This way, you can ensure that your device will be safe from any hacker potentially finding your device and sending a file filled with malware. 

2. ) Limit the share of personal information

Though it might already be a given, you shouldn’t easily give away your personal information if you were to log in to a public network. Why? It is because a hacker is smart enough to hack your e-mail account even without knowing its password completely; the same can be said with your mobile number. Once you see that a public wifi system requires you to input either your e-mail address or your mobile number, you should run and not continue connecting with it.

3. ) Use a VPN

One of the most foolproof ways to protect yourself from public wifi. A VPN, or a virtual private network, will be able to help you browse privately without the fear of anyone accessing your device. Though a VPN service might be expensive, they are worth it since it can easily give you that added layer of protection, especially if you are on a public network where your privacy might be compromised. 

In Conclusion:

The internet is already a dangerous place in and of itself; however, connecting to the internet in a public connection gives it another layer of danger that nobody saw coming. Hopefully, these steps that we have given below will help you learn how to protect your device – and yourself – from the dangers of the internet.