Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee shops, libraries, airports, hotels, and other public places are convenient, but often they’re not secure. If you connect to a Wi-Fi network, and send information through websites or mobile apps, it might be accessed by someone else.
Someone spying could easily pick up your passwords or other private information. If you use the same password on multiple sites, that could be a big problem. This is the biggest concern with public hotspots.
To protect your information when using wireless hotspots, send information only to sites that are fully encrypted, and avoid using mobile apps that require personal or financial information.
Individuals and organizations have to acknowledge and own their role in safeguarding themselves in the digital era, by enforcing a consistent and strong security practices, raising community awareness, educating vulnerable audiences or training employees
No public Wi-Fi network is absolutely secure—that depends as much on who's on it with you as who provides it—but in terms of relative safety, known quantities generally beat out that random public Wi-Fi network that pops up on your phone in a shopping mall, or a network operated by a third party that you've never heard of.
These may well be legit, but if any passerby can hook it up for free, what's the benefit for the people running the network etc? There's no hard or fast rule to apply, but using a bit of common practical sense doesn't hurt.
If you can, stick to a few public Wi-Fi networks as possible. In a new city, connect to Wi-Fi in a store or coffee shop you've used before, for example. The more networks you sign up to, the more likely the chances that you'll stumble across one that isn't treating your data and browsing as carefully as it should be.
Be very wary of signing up for public Wi-Fi access if you're getting asked for a bunch of personal details, like your email address or your phone number. If you absolutely have to connect to networks like this, stick to places you trust and consider using an alternative email address that isn't your primary one.
Stores and restaurants that do this want to be able to recognize you across multiple Wi-Fi hotspots and tailor their marketing accordingly, so it's up to you to decide whether the trade-off is worth it for some free internet access.
Again, sign up for as few different public Wi-Fi platforms as you can. Does your phone or cable carrier offer free Wi-Fi hotspots in your current location, for example? If you can get connected through a service that you're already registered for, then that's usually preferable to giving up your details to yet another group of companies.
In an age where digital mobility is enabling employees to work remotely, it's important to be aware of the potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities this brings to your business. Although companies will face some risks with remote employees, implementing best practices such as using a VPN, providing employee training, and ensuring local resources are secure can give employees the freedom to work remotely while increasing the security of the organization overall.
