Miscellaneous 3 min. read

6 public Wi-Fi security tips

6 public Wi-Fi security tips

Ideally, unsecured public Wi-Fi hotspots should just be avoided. However, their convenience and freeness make it somewhat difficult to resist connecting to them, especially in situations when you don’t have easy access to a secure network. If you find yourself needing to connect to an open Wi-Fi network, you need to ensure that your information is protected. Here are six public Wi-Fi security tips you should consider.

    1. Use Virtual Private Network (VPN) software.

      A high-quality VPN is one of the most useful tools you can have to keep your information secure when logged on to public Wi-Fi. It is designed to encrypt your data traffic, so spies on the same network won’t be able to access your information.

      VPNs also mask your legitimate IP address with an IP address from another country. You could physically be in the US, but your VPN would show that you’re in a different country.

    2. Activate your device’s your firewall.

      The purpose of a firewall is to prevent unauthorized external access to your system. It screens all communications made to and from your device and blocks anything that doesn’t meet its security criteria. This is why it should actually be on at all times. If it isn’t, do yourself a favor and tu at all times, but if it isn’t, turn it on prior to connecting to a public Wi-Fi network.

    3. Update your anti-virus anti-malware programs.

      Cybercriminals take advantage of the security flaws of public Wi-Fi by using it to inject malware onto the devices of unsuspecting users. So, always make sure that the latest versions of your anti-virus software are installed on your device. This way, it will be a whole lot easier to detect if malware gets into your system.

    4. Avoid logging on to certain accounts.

      Smaller hospitals and clinics usually can’t afford to have state-of-the-art medical equipment, so it stands to reason that they also can’t afford to spend money on cybersecurity. Investing in cybersecurity infrastructure is often not a priority for these facilities because they have other, bigger problems.

    5. Browse secure websites only.

      Secure websites use encryption protocols such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) to keep data communications between them and the user private and secure.If you don’t know how to identify which websites are secure, it’s really simple. They’re the ones with URLs that start with HTTPS. On your browser’s address bar, you’ll also see a padlock icon which signifies that the website is secure.

    6. Turn off file sharing.

      File sharing is only acceptable if you’re on a secure network, either at home or at work. File sharing on public networks, though, is an entirely different matter. Hackers can hijack your data through public Wi-FI, so deactivate all your device’s public file sharing settings before connecting to an open network.

Secure your data with Hotspot Shield.wifi network security

Want a product that will give you complete public Wi-Fi security? Then Hotspot Shield is perfect for you. Hotspot Shield is a high-quality VPN that is designed to encrypt your data traffic and keep it safe from hackers. With Hotspot Shield, you can rest easy knowing that your information won’t fall into the hands of cybercriminals.

Protect your information. Visit our website and download Hotspot Shield today. It’s available for free on Windows, Mac OS, Android, and iOS. For more cybersecurity tips, feel free to visit our blog.

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