Do Not Compromise Your Security over Public Networks

Featured article by Fawad Malik, Independent Technology Author

Free Wi-Fi for travelers or mobile workers may be considered a wonderful resource. Or, for those who do have a low Internet quota, that is appealing. For varied reasons, they may use the internet connection, which supports their trip. In common public areas, such as airports, libraries, shops, restaurants, and hotels, free Wi-Fi can be found.

These “hot spots” are extremely popular, and without questioning, individuals sometimes connect to them. Unencrypted or open Internet networks that can be connected to by individuals with smartphones and laptops anytime they get the opportunity are not as safe as it appears. Users’ Internet interactions and transactions can be monitored through the connected network, and bank, e-mail, and social media payment details and credentials can be collected. To ensure your security, each user is aware of potential threats and review their habits and actions over the net.

Here, we will try to mention critical security precautions when using public networks and surfing over the web.

Use a VPN in case of connecting a public Wi-Fi

Because now, in terms of both range and material, the time we spend on the internet, the places we use, and the transactions we make have become varied, complicated, and have become too dangerous. What are we talking about? For browsers where you post your orders, bank statements, share purchases, business addresses, school documents, and more, you should take security precautions.

Using VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one of these tactics. Because VPNs build completely encrypted gateways for you and allow you to surf the internet, hiding you and your records, over these concealed tunnels. The choice of applications with VPN extensions may be one of the best ways to experience it. Or you can help secure your data using free VPNs at the beginning, and find the right program for you.

Prefer 3D Secure Payment Options

And particularly if you are using the website for the very first time, if you are connecting in a foreign place to an unknown internet source, and most notably, if you need to purchase something over a public WiFi network, we highly suggest that you use VPN to shop and make a payment for the internet. Even if you are shopping from a trustworthy organization, it can allow your data to be compromised by exchanging credit cards and passwords over public WiFi without using a VPN.

Today, most businesses are restricting banks and payment networks from placing orders in one single stage and you can do this selection as well on the check-out page. In 3D secure payments, after you insert your card details and approve the transaction, a confirmation SMS code will be sent to your phone to make a safe money transaction. When making internet purchases, ensure that you use this method.

Switch Off Features of Sharing

You will not want to reveal anything when connecting to the Internet in a public venue. You can turn off sharing from System Settings or Control Panel based on your operating system, or let Windows turn off sharing for you by choosing the “Public” option.

Keep Wi-Fi off when it is not needed

Even though you are not directly connected to a network, the computer’s Wi-Fi technology continues to transmit data across the spectrum of networks. To avoid this little correspondence from placing you at risk, there are security mechanisms used, but not all wireless routers are just the same, and hackers can be super ingenious. Keep your Wi-Fi switched off if you are just using your computer to operate on a Word or Excel file. In that way, you have the extra battery life as well.

Use your cellular data

If you need to use or require access to websites that store classified information, such as social networking sites, online shopping, and online banking websites, it would be easier to access those websites via your cell phone network than through public Wi-Fi service. Prefer this where it is possible to use direct smartphone apps for this. Or turn a cell phone into a hotspot for the other device that you use.

With more awareness-raising incidents and information, people prefer not to use public networks for work purposes, but they can still easily compromise personal data. Hence, the abovementioned suggestions are not only for your company PC but especially critical for everyday user behaviors.