Internet is considered a basic necessity and you need internet even if you are not at your house. We now live in a world where we can’t think about a life without having access to the internet. It is quite important in our lives.
If you are outside your house and come across public Wi-Fi, make sure you take basic security steps. Because the data is not encrypted, and public Wi-Fi is not a secure connection. Your IP address can be readily identified once you connect your device to it. For hackers, the easiest way to get access to your device is via public Wi-Fi because the data path is not encrypted when you connect your device to an open network.
If you are outside your house and need to do some work or make a WhatsApp call and you are using public Wi-Fi, make sure you take security steps so you can do your work with the ease of mind that your device is secure from hackers.
If you use a home network, you won’t have to worry as much about security as you should with the public network. Many internet service providers like Suddenlink offer internet security alongside their internet services. Suddenlink offers internet security with all Suddenlink internet plans because they understand how important it is to ensure that the internet connection you are getting is secure.
Millions of individuals have been victims of data breaches as a consequence of our failure to take security measures, which results in the loss of personal information and sensitive data. There are several ways for a hacker to gain access to your device, but the simplest and most easy way for a hacker to gain access to your device is over public Wi-Fi. We will discuss several security measures that you should take when you use free Wi-Fi.
- Verify the network’s authenticity
We all use public Wi-Fi, whenever we get the chance but we are unaware of the dangers that come along with it. We all have been to public locations, such as coffee shops, and were thrilled when we discovered a free Wi-Fi network and connected to it without even checking to see whether it was authentic or not.
Before connecting to a random network in a public area such as a coffee shop, always ask the management about the Wi-Fi network and password. Hackers frequently use a name for their Wi-Fi networks that is similar to the actual network, so double-check the network first.
- Do not access your confidential information
Make sure you don’t do anything with your personal information when using public Wi-Fi, such as making online transactions, accessing your email or bank accounts, or any other sensitive data that is vital to you. Whenever possible, do such things on your private network, which is far more secure than public Wi-Fi.
- Use Virtual Private Network (VPN)
If you are outside of your home or you often visit public locations and use a public Wi-Fi network, you must use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your data and make it more difficult for a hacker to access your device. It will disguise your IP address so that it cannot be traced, and protect you from internet attacks.
Moreover, it will protect your device against phishing emails and other third-party assaults. Your data path will be encrypted after you connect to the VPN. Hackers may even know that you are using a VPN, but they will be unable to intervene since your IP address will be altered, making it difficult for them to track you.
- Look for HTTPS websites
When we use internet service, we usually don’t care if we are accessing HTTPS-encrypted websites or not. The websites, which are not HTTPS-encrypted, are not secure. To check if the website is HTTPS-encrypted or not, you can check the website link in the URL address bar. Its purpose is to confirm that the website has a valid digital certificate and that using it is safe. Do not use such websites if there is no encryption, especially if you are performing online banking or something else which is important.
- Manually choose the Wi-Fi network
Make sure your smartphone, tablet, or laptop is set to manually choose the Wi-Fi network. Also, once you have finished using the Wi-Fi service, make sure to turn it off. Forget the networks you don’t use very often. Your device will not be safe if you have set it to connect automatically to any Wi-Fi network. Your device will be connected to any random network, allowing it to be hacked.
- Install anti-virus software
Your system or device should have the strongest virus protection software installed. Since, this will protect your device from hackers or cybercriminals who are continually looking to get access to your device, take your personal information, and use it for illicit reasons. The antivirus software will try to protect your device from cyberattacks and viruses.
- Active firewall
Make sure the built-in firewall on your system is turned on since this will also guard your device against hackers and cyber-attacks. It has the potential to be an excellent protection mechanism against cyber-attacks. The term “firewall” encapsulates everything. It will protect your computer from viruses and malware.
- Update your device
Ensure that your device is operating the most recent firmware version. Every new update enhances security, so don’t be frustrated if you have to upgrade your smartphone because it will help you protect your personal data and information.
- Adopt two-factor authentication
Double-check that two-factor authentication is turned on. This will offer an extra layer of security, and your devices will be safer. Wherever feasible, be sure to enable this.
Summing it up
If you cannot live without the internet or if you travel frequently and need to use public Wi-Fi for business, make sure you follow the steps outlined above to keep your device safe from hackers. A data breach is happening a lot and many people have become a victim of it because they didn’t take the necessary precautions. To make sure that you don’t become one, take all the above-mentioned security measures.
