Carrying a mobile device – a smartphone, tablet or even a laptop – has become an everyday fact of life for most of us and it’s becoming easier than ever to access email and the Internet via Wi-Fi, from grocery stores to doctor office waiting rooms.
But going online via public services, especially those that don’t use a password, is inherently risky.
That’s not to say you shouldn’t use them but you need to be aware that your online activities could be visible to prying eyes or even vulnerable to a virus attack. For example, the FBI recently reported a number of incidents in which hotel Wi-Fi networks were hacked, allowing crooks to access users’ devices with pop-up messages asking them to download a “security update”. In fact, this turned out to be spyware that stole personal information from the devices.
If you’re using an “open” Wi-Fi network, follow these key rules to reduce the risk of being compromised:
- Be Smart. When in doubt, consider any open network a security risk.
- Be sure you have the right network. Hackers might set up fake networks to lure you in, so when in doubt, be sure to ask a store associate.
- Avoid typing in confidential information, such as passwords or credit card numbers. It doesn’t even take a hacker to pick up on your keystrokes – any ‘neighbor’ could peek over your shoulder and check in on what you’re doing (shoulder surfing.)
- Don’t click or tap on pop-ups or download files unless you’re 100% sure where they came from.
- Keep your Internet security programs up to date and consider using additional network security software.