Free WiFi - Beware

It is in many people’s gene to take an undue advantage of every freely provided resource and use it to the extreme level possible.  Whether it’s a free vehicle ride, free food, free money without interest or free travel/stay, they tend to become as innovative as possible to top ourselves in these aspects.  

With the world transforming into digital, out of nowhere Wi-Fi has suddenly started gaining traction and demand. People belonging to all ages and every walk of life are making provisions for house, office, and other places they visit to be Wi-Fi equipped for their own convenience. Let’s face it, whenever free Wi-Fi pops up, it’s difficult to pass up without using it for our own benefit. 

 Hackers know very well that shoppers and travellers are always in a hurry and busy in their own way. Hence, verifying   a secured Wi-Fi connection before using it will be the last thing on their minds.   These networks look and appear to be absolutely risk-free, but the truth is dreadful indeed. These networks are cheaply built and offered by hackers or thieves.  The least known fact is that the battery powered portable powerless routers are easy to create and can be concealed in a backpack then planted anywhere, airports, high end restaurants, lobbies and even shopping malls. 

Once you are connected to such bogus network, hackers know that all those people who get connected   are out of their comfort zone. The truth is your data can be shared and exploited anywhere in this world via unsecured Wi-Fi public connections. Over 370 million accounts are leaked every year.  For you to not to fall prey to such scams, mentioned below are the ‘must have’ measures and the calculated risks associated with free internet access. 

·         Avoid Free and unencrypted Wi-Fi access: - If you open your e-mail account, you are opening the doors wide for all the crooks with the skeleton keys to rest of the vital information in your account. If you are left with no choice but to operate under such network then make sure you open nothing else than news. Allow you e-mails to download but don’t open any messages or mails in them. 

·         Update: - Device software, antivirus and firewalls are your best friends when you are not in your comfort zone and protect you from such spurious networks.  Ensure that your device is well equipped with the mentioned items in a secured network before you start your journey. AVG anti- virus is recommended to be one of the best performing protection software for your computers, laptops or mobile devices. Other suggested names are ‘Panda Mobile Security’ and ‘Avast Mobile Security.’

·         Invest in your personal internet service provider that you can access while you are travelling or out of home: - Better off to avoid fiddled network and be safe when you are on the road within such surrounding. Ensure you have minimum of WPA2 encryption and a trusted VPN (Virtual Private Network) that works with local telecom service providers and be safe. 

·         Never access sensitive data  publically or conduct online banking on Wi-Fi: - Were you aware of fact that most of the https designed websites have to ability to protect till your home page where your credentials are entered? Yes, it is true. In fact onceyou  enter the site after entering your credentials, the information layered within that site can be maliciously captured and viewed. 

Nothing in life comes free. There is a price to be paid for every minute thing in this world including free public Wi-Fi. The brutal reality is that something, which carries zero value, is the only one that is free.  In case of public free Wi-Fi, the value is your important information. Your commitment towards protecting your own information and encouraging the world of Information Security  will undoubtedly lead you to not only enhancement of your image, but also reach the highest level of professionalism, accountability and credibility.