Module 16 Public Wife.pdf

Nowadays, people use public WiFi all the time. In coffee shops, hotels, bars, the list goes on. However, if you do need to access the internet whilst away from your home or office, you should be aware of the many threats to data security that lie in wait on public WiFi. Remember, data sent over pub...

Nowadays, people use public WiFi all the time. In coffee shops, hotels, bars, the list goes on. However, if you do need to access the internet whilst away from your home or office, you should be aware of the many threats to data security that lie in wait on public WiFi. Remember, data sent over public WiFi can easily be intercepted by attackers, and any sensitive information that you send or receive whilst using these networks could be put at risk. When looking to connect to public Wi-Fi, one of the most common threats is that of rogue public Wi-Fi networks. These often have almost identical names to genuine networks and are designed to trick you into connecting. Once connected, everything you do online can be seen by cyber criminals. Who monitor your activity, waiting for any financial information or account credentials to be entered. This is what is known as a man-in-the-middle attack. It's also worth remembering that public Wi-Fi can also be used as a way of infecting your devices with malware. Cybercriminals can easily send across Trojans, viruses and other kinds of malicious software via an unsecure Wi-Fi connection. These are then able to cause damage to your computer and could also compromise any sensitive information stored within. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to stay safe when using public Wi-Fi. Number 1. Verify your connection. Make sure to check with a member of staff that you're connected to the correct public Wi-Fi, otherwise you could end up leaking sensitive information via a rogue network. Number 2. Use HTTPS. You've probably seen the padlock before when typing a URL into your browser. This is telling you that the site you're visiting is both sending and receiving information that is encrypted. Encryption is incredibly useful if a malicious user is lurking on public Wi-Fi, just waiting for you to enter credit card numbers, passwords, or account info. Number 3. Turn off file sharing. Another thing you can do is to turn off any file sharing or airdrop features before connecting to public Wi-Fi. If you do leave file sharing enabled, then attackers can access confidential information without you even realizing. Number 4. Be smart with sensitive data. Unless it's essential, then you should refrain from logging into social media, financial or email accounts while connected to public Wi-Fi. If you do need to check your bank account or send an email containing sensitive information, then it's worth doing it on your own device over a private network. Number 5. Use a VPN By using a virtual private network, also known as a VPN, even if an attacker positions themselves in the middle of your connection, your data will remain encrypted and impossible to read without a decryption key. By following these steps, you will be able to benefit from all the advantages that public WiFi offers, whilst also being able to ensure that sensitive data remains secure.