When you connect to wireless Internet in public places, do you ever consider the possibility of a security breach? That worry doesn’t cross a lot of people’s minds, but it is one hazard of using Wi-Fi. In fact, the risk of being hacked is so high that it’s astounding more people aren’t aware of it. Consider the following tips next time you connect to the Internet at your local coffee shop.
- Examine network security. Before you connect to a public network, you can check the security by left clicking your options and examining the “SSD” identification. If it’s an unsecured network, it will say so. Secured networks require passwords, but the coffee shop should be able to provide one for your use.
- Let your computer know the network is public. In Windows, when you connect to a new network there’s an option to set the location of the network. You’ll want to choose “public,” which notifies the computer to step up its security.
- Invest in third-party software. There are products available that virtually secure your computer as if it were on a personal network.
- Hide personal folders. Instead of giving folders obvious names, hide your confidential information deep within folders hackers wouldn’t think to look.
- Don’t log into bank or other financial websites. Even if you believe your network to be secure, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If a hacker is tracking your browsing habits, visiting a bank website is a sure way to give away your password.
- Clear out your cookies. Cookies are bits of data you receive when you visit a website. Stored passwords are found in your cookies. By removing cookies before you plug into a hot spot, you decrease the possibility of a hacker obtaining your passwords.
- Utilize firewalls. While they don’t block everything, firewalls at least attempt to keep out unwanted content and hackers.