Circles.LifePublic Wifi Safety: Know the Risks and Stay Secure
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5 min read
Public Wi-Fi is available throughout Australia from cafes to airports, shopping centres to city hotspots, restaurants and even on public transport.
Free Wi-Fi provides easy access to the internet for everyone. However, connecting to public Wi-Fi can pose risks to your data privacy and security. In this blog post, we’ll talk about the safety of public Wi-Fi, the risks associated with using public Wi-Fi, and handy tips to help you protect your data.
Public Wi-Fi may not be as safe as it first seems
Lost mobile reception? Maxed out your mobile data plan? Travelling and don’t have a local phone yet? Seeing a free Wi-Fi network to connect your laptop or phone to while you’re on-the-go may at first seem like salvation — you can finally reply to your friends on social media! But, is this public network really what it says it is and what are the real risks?
What are the risks of connecting to public Wi-Fi?
Public Wi-F networks are not completely threat-free and you are at the most risk when you connect to a public network. This is because it’s easier for a cybercriminal to utilise a number of techniques to gain your data as free public Wi-Fi networks don’t have access restrictions.
Connecting to a public Wi-Fi network with poor or outdated security credentials is dangerous and can pose a number of threats, such as:
1. Man-in-the-middle attacks
A man in the middle (MITM) attack is the term used to describe the scenario of a cybercriminal positioning themselves between a user and an application or website.
The purpose of a MITM attack is to effectively ‘look over the shoulder’ of the user and eavesdrop on the data being sent or impersonate a party to trick them into interacting with a cybercriminal while posing as a legitimate app,site, or person.
A MITM attack, if successful could potentially steal data such as: sensitive information (bank details, passport numbers, date of birth, etc) Login details to your online bank accounts, credit card numbers on e-commerce sites.
Man-in-the-middle attacks can also redirect users on public networks to sites that host malware.
2. Wi-Fi sniffing (snooping)
Wi-Fi sniffing is a technique cybercriminals use to access sensitive information through devices that help the cybercriminal to see what users are doing online while connected to the network. Wi-Fi sniffing can allow hackers to see exactly what you’re doing online, the sites you’ve visited (including any saved data on those sites — like credit card details and logins) and can even gie them control of your online session.
3. Downloading malware
Vulnerabilities in software make for pathways for hackers to smuggle malware and malicious software onto your device. Computer viruses are a type of malware. Once on your device, malware can break weak passwords, infect your computer’s key systems, and at its worst, cause havoc on business networks by locking key files (giving the attacker the chance to extort money from organisations.
What safety measures are taken by Wi-Fi providers?
Encryption is a major contributor to browsing safely online. To tell if the network you want to connect to is encrypted, simply look for the little padlock symbol to the left of a website address bar (URL).
This padlock symbol also appears on mobile devices if the connection is encrypted.
Encryption prevents cybercriminals from reading the data you’re entering and stops the attacker ‘intercepting’ your communication from your internet browser and the website's server.
Another way you can tell if a site is encrypted is if the URL (website address) starts with “HTTPS” with the “S” standing for “Secure”.
Why aren’t all public Wi-Fi networks secured with HTTPS?
The safety of our data depends on the security of the network and as Aaron Rinehart, co-founder and chief technology officer of cybersecurity firm Verica, says “Mom-and-pop shops are unlikely to keep up with necessary Wi-Fi maintenance such as firmware updates and strong passwords”. Connecting to an outdated network could pose risks and make it easier for cybercriminals to steal our data.
There is also the risk that you’ve just connected to an illegitimate Wi-Fi network run by those that are seeking to actively steal your data.
How to protect your data on public Wi-Fi
Connecting to a public network can be done safely if a few key actions are followed. Keep your information safe and reduce the risk of your date being stolen online by:
1. Using a VPN
Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the most effective way of staying safe online while connected to a public network. A VPN provides a private network from a public connection and allows you to browse the website anonymously. VPNs ‘mask’ your IP address (a unique number that identifies the deceive you’re using) meaning your online activity is practically untraceable.
Effectively, a VPN creates a bubble around your device that allows you to move through a public network while hiding the things you do online, the links you click, and the content you download.
2. Turning Wi-Fi off when not in use
Turning off the Wi-Fi on your device when you’re not using it means that hackers cannot access your device. Turning off Wi-Fi is easy to do on your smartphone, laptop, or tablet. Turning off Wi-Fi also helps to boost your device’s battery which is super handy if you’re travelling or won’t have access to a power point for a while!
3. Ensure your device isn’t sharing information
When you’re on a secure and private network (like your home Wi-Fi) it may be convenient to set your devices up to be discoverable or to share access to folders and files with other people in the household. However, when connected to a public network, this is unsafe.
To disable sharing on your device:
Windows 10-11: Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings > File and printer sharing and network discovery > Off > Save changes.
(Mac OS): System Preferences > Sharing > File Sharing > Uncheck.Is your phone your go-to device for connecting to public networks? Take a read of our article on smartphone security including ten must-dos to ensure your data stays safe when you connect to public networks from your mobile or learn how to know if your phone has a virus.
4. Keeping your devices updated.
Although some updates may seem like an inconvenience, an updated device can greatly improve your online security. Cyber.gov.au state, “Updates are one of the strongest defences in your security toolkit. Updating your device and applications can fix issues and address new security concerns.”
As well as providing security improvements, updates can fix ‘bugs’ in older versions of software and can make the device better to use and more secure.
“Regular updates are critical in maintaining a secure system. It's important to check for any updates and make sure that automatic updates are switched on. Cyber criminals hack devices by using known weaknesses in systems or apps. Updates have security upgrades to fix these weaknesses.”
It’s a good idea to ensure automatic updates are turned on for your device so you can ensure your laptop, phone, or tablet aren't falling behind.
5. Avoid accessing sensitive data while on public Wi-Fi
As a general rule, it’s best to avoid accessing sensitive websites if you’re connected to Wi-Fi. For example, you should avoid doing any internet banking, paying bills, buying products where you need to enter in card details, logging into cloud storage sites, or emails on public Wi-Fi. Try using public networks for less sensitive tasks like casual browsing.
6. Connecting to known brand Wi-Fi
Connecting to a public Wi-Fi network with a known brand name is a good place to start. For instance, if you’re in a shopping centre, look for the network with the name of the mall, or the coffee shop that you’re sitting in. Wi-Fi names with spelling errors, unprofessional titles, or generic Wi-Fi names with a series of letters and numbers could pose a risk.
Staying safe online
While no public Wi-Fi is completely safe, common sense can be applied which can reduce your risk of running into problems. Always hide your activity using a VPN, ensure your device isn’t set up to share files on public networks, turn Wi-Fi off when not in use, don’t do sensitive tasks on public connections, and always make sure your devices are updated.
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Published Date 2023-06-06
Written by Circles.Life
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