Just about everywhere you go, there’s access to free Wi-Fi these days. Whether you’re connecting at your local coffee shop, while shopping for groceries at a national chain store, or even just grabbing a bite to eat at a fast food place, there’s access to the internet all over the place.
The unfortunate part that many people do not realize is that using these temptingly free access points poses a huge risk. Besides having your personal information stolen and increasing your risk for accidentally obtaining a dangerous virus on your device, you can also find yourself in a situation where a stranger is able to track your location. To help educate you on the risks, head over to the Smartproxy blog to learn more.
It’s all incredibly scary and not a topic that many people know about. Here are a few reasons why you should think twice before using free Wi-Fi connections.
User Tracking is Real and You Might Not Know About It
Another problem with using free public Wi-Fi is that is that many providers are starting to track users, even when they are far from the network. For example, London’s public transit network recently announced that they’ll be tracking the movements of users after they’ve logged off. The reason? They intend to collect personal data to offer a more personalized approach to delay notifications and other alerts.
And they certainly aren’t the only ones doing this. Major firms partnering with fast food chains and coffee shops are adding this to their terms of service for those who connect to free Wi-Fi. Once you sign on, you give the agency permission to access your information anytime you come within range of their network. For example, when you visit a certain KFC location and use Wi-Fi one time, you might automatically connect the next time you’re near a Taco Bell restaurant.
How can they do this? Usually, there is something in the terms of service when you login to the network for the first time that says you agree to tracking. If you just click through, as most people do, you might not even notice.
Sadly, examples like this are not uncommon. As large organizations become more dependent on algorithm data, sneaking in the ability to track users before they sign on to a free Wi-Fi network is only slated to increase further.
Other Potential Problems with Free Wi-Fi Usage
Of course, tracking and data aren’t the only problems that can arise when you use a public Wi-Fi network. For years, computer experts have warned against using these unprotected servers to access the internet, as they can be breeding grounds for hackers looking to get hold of your personal information.
Referred to as man-in-the-middle attacks, this process happens when a hacker intercepts your information on the Wi-Fi network and essentially sees everything on your screen and all of your keystrokes. If you’re accessing sensitive information or logging in to a website with a password, they can collect this information. Then, they either sell it or access your account without your permission.
Let’s look at an example. Assume you’re on a public Wi-Fi network at your local coffee shop and using a service to login to order groceries for curbside pickup at your local big box store. A hacker is able to see your password as you login. From there, they can save that information and sign into your big box store account later, change your email address and password, then help themselves to a nice purchase on your saved credit card. Not a good situation, right? Again, this is a major risk when you use these free Wi-Fi networks without taking certain precautions.
How to Protect Yourself from Breaches When Using Free Wi-Fi
The easiest way to protect yourself from security breaches when using free Wi-Fi is to simply not use it. After all, if you aren’t connected there won’t be problems, right? Sometimes easier said than done.
We all have certain times when using a public Wi-Fi hotspot is unavoidable. During those times, it is important to decide whether or not your overall safety is a concern.
For example, if you’re just checking the weather or sports scores, you probably don’t need to take any special precautions to protect the information you’re viewing. But if you plan on checking email, online banking, or access any other sensitive documents, you’ll want to ensure you’re absolutely protected. There are a few ways to accomplish this, but here are a few rules to remember:
Read Privacy Policies Carefully: If you must connect to a local Wi-Fi hotspot, make sure you read the privacy policy carefully. Any network tracking your movements or files on your device must disclose this information within this document. From there, you can make a decision whether connecting is really safe to do.
Consider Using a VPN: Virtual private networks (VPNs) protect your data while in transit and are a good way to protect yourself from annoying and harmful man-in-the-middle attacks. While they work great for this purpose, they can be a bit difficult to set up if you aren’t tech savvy.
Use a Proxy Server: Another option for protection is to use a proxy server. This is where another computer on the internet acts as a gateway between you and the rest of the web. When you pull up information on a website, it first runs through the proxy server, which masks your actual IP address. On a public Wi-Fi network, this acts as another layer of protection to keep your personal information from being stolen.
Keep Good Document Protection Habits: Remember the basics. Delete old documents from your hard drive that contain personal information. Make your passwords hard to guess and only visit websites that have an SSL. By keeping these general habits in mind, you can protect yourself from an attack while on public Wi-Fi.
Wrap Up: The Dangers of Using Free Public Wi-Fi
Before you use public Wi-Fi networks, make sure you understand what you’re getting yourself into. Even the most innocent and secure connections can turn out to be a problem if you haven’t taken the right steps for protection.
