Introduction
In this digital era, the availability of public wi-fi becoming normal and it is a convenient way to get connected with the world although it also poses a great threat to public personal data. The public wi-fi available at cafes, airports, railway stations, and hotels is easy to get online but they might also have some hidden threats. Before using this public wi-fi it's important to understand the risk they possess. In this article, there are some threats to public wi-fi are discussed and also some points to keep in mind while using public wi-fi.
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Threats of public wi-fi
- Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: This is one of the most common threats to public wi-fi. In this attack, hackers intercept your connection and can access your personal data, login credentials, and other sensitive information. Hackers can also redirect you to fake websites or inject malicious code and steal your information.
- Snooping and Sniffing: In Snooping and Sniffing hackers generally eavesdrop on your wi-fi signal through some special software. Through these tools, they can monitor your activities without coming into your knowledge. With the help of special software, hackers can see your live screen and they can see what website you are visiting and your credentials. With the help of your data, they can easily take control of your online accounts.
- Malicious Hotspots: Malicious hotspots are also known as "Evil Twin Attacks". So, under this attack, hackers create a fake hotspot with a similar name to trusted networks and make it look legit so the public can connect to it. Once the device gets connected then the whole data will go through the hacker's device giving them access to sensitive information.
- Malware Distribution: Hackers can use public wi-fi to distribute malware if that wi-fi network is compromised. Once you will connect to this network it will inject malware into your device and steal your personal data. These malware can cause even more devastating situations like encrypting your data, making your device completely useless, and if they want they can monitor your device to get more sensitive information.
- Unencrypted Networks: Many public wi-fi networks don't have proper encryptions, when you connect to these networks your device becomes vulnerable and whatever data you send to the router can be intercepted by anyone within the range. The data may include your browsing history and passwords. Even some public wi-fi uses outdated or weak protocols that can be easily broken down by the hacker.
How to use public wi-fi safely?
Despite having several threats you can take a few measures to protect yourself while using public wi-fi networks.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Always enable two-factor authentication for all your online accounts, even if hackers steal the password they can't be able to log in your account because of two-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of security and plays a crucial role in protecting your data.
- Update Your Software: Always keep your OS and other software inside your device up-to-date. The update includes the latest patches for security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.
- Always use VPN: One of the most effective ways to secure your activities on public wi-fi. VPN is generally used to encrypt your internet connection so if the public wi-fi is vulnerable still it will make it hard for hackers to intercept your connection.
- Avoid Transactions: If it is not urgent then avoid doing any kind of transactions on public wi-fi. Always do online transactions on secured wi-fi networks.
- Use HTTPS Protocol: Always use HTTPS protocol whenever you are surfing on the internet. HTTPS encrypts the data shared with browsers and websites and makes it harder for hackers to access your personal data.
Conclusion
Public wi-fi is convenient but also puts up a great risk to your personal data. By understanding threats and taking appropriate safety measures you can protect yourself from any kind of cyber threat. Always stay attentive while using public wi-fi and give priority to your online safety.