When you are working at Starbucks, you are probably on their WiFi. If your choice of a workplace isn’t Starbucks, maybe it is the airport as you are waiting for your plane to depart. In either case, you are using public, unsecured WiFi.
Why Does This Matter?
Check out this news report about people that recreate fake hotspots to steal your information.
It may shock you that it is easier than you think…
Watch Out For Fake WiFi Networks
When you looking for an open WiFi network, make sure it is legit.
When I first moved to Huntington and went to Pacific City to work, I saw that their network is called “Lot579 Public WiFi.” Instead of just logging in, I asked one of the store owners if that was in fact a real WiFi network.
Use a Virtual Private Network (or VPN)
Using a “Virtual Private Network” (VPN) is a piece of software that will encrypt your data when you are connected to the Internet so that even if a hacker gets access to a network they won’t be able to see what you are doing very easily.
In fact, many people even recommend using a VPN while you are at home to keep your Internet Service Provider from also being able to see where you go and what you do while you are online. Since tech companies aren’t taking privacy seriously, that means it is up to you to protect yourself.
I currently use and recommend VPN Unlimited.
Use Antivirus and Anti-malware Protection
Yes, hackers are getting sophosticaed, but it doesn’t hurt to have Antivirus and Anti-malware software up and running. I use Malwarebytes and have been really happy with the results.
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