[ Tech - Tips ] While Using Public Wi-Fi Hotspots

Dinesh Vishwakarma

[br][br]People are addicted to free Wi-Fi and don't think twice about connecting to any network that can get them online in most cases. Getting Wi-Fi in a hotel, on an airplane, even in a restaurant or bar drives decision-making on where to go and stay. The most important thing to access is GPS information and public Wi-Fi in hotels/rentals to watch adult content—and I'm not talking about HBO GO. There are plenty of people doing that on trains, buses, airports, at work, and even in the public toilet.[br][br][strong]Pick the Correct Network[/strong][br][br] [br][br]Have you ever tried to connect to public Wi-Fi and seen multiple network names that are similar but not the same? EricsCoffeeHaus versus EriksCoffeeHaus, or HiltonGuest versus HiltonGuests, for example. This is a tried-and-true man-in-the-middle attack used by hackers—dubbed Wi-Phishing—which tries to trick you into logging into the wrong network to get to your info. Most people don't take the time to check, and jump on the strongest, open signal they see. But you should always check that you pick the legitimate network.[br][br][br][strong]Pick a Secure Network[/strong][br][br] [br][br]When you want to pick a Wi-Fi hotspot to log into, try and find one that's got you locked out. You read that right. Usually if you see the lock icon, it means you can't get access. Networks with zero security don't have a lock icon next to them, or the word "secured," which shows on a Windows laptop. On an iPhone, if you click an unsecured network—even if it's your own at home—you'll get a warning that reads "Security Recommendation."[br][br]Of course, this isn't a hard and fast rule. Some hotspots don't show the lock because they have what's called "walled garden" security: you have to log in via a browser to get access to the internet. The login usually is provided by the hotspot—you may get it from the front desk at a hotel, for example, while checking in.[br][br][br][strong]Ask to Connect[/strong][br][br] [br][br]You can set most devices to ask before they connect to a network, rather than just automatically connecting to either the strongest open network around, or a network they've connected to before. That's a good idea; never assume the network you used in one place is as safe as one with the same name in another place. Anyone with the right tools could spoof a Wi-Fi network's broadcast name (called the SSID). If the device asks first, you've got a chance to make a decision about whether it's safe to connect or not. On iOS for example, go to Settings  Wi-Fi, and check off "Ask to Join Networks." On Android, the exact path will vary, but look for Wi-Fi preferences in Settings.[br][br][br][strong]Subscribe to Hotspots[/strong][br][br] [br][br]Services like Boingo—which partners with others to provide access to over 1 million hotspots around the globe—or Gogo, which provides hotspots specifically for planes in flight, are two of the big names in subscription Wi-Fi services. Pay them a monthly fee—which can get pricey—and you know when you find their certified hotspots, they're a lot less likely to be run by the bad guys. (Not impossible, but pretty unlikely.)[br][br][br][strong]Use Hotspot 2.0[/strong][br][br] [br][br]Never heard of 802.11u? How about Wi-Fi Certified Passpoint? They're all the same thing: a method to help people not only securely get on a hotspot, but roam from supported hotspot to hotspot, cell-tower style. That means you enter credentials to sign in once, which get reused at hotspots all over the place, logging you in instantly and securely.[br][br]A device has to have the right hardware installed to support Hotspot 2.0, but the major operating systems like Windows 10, macOS, iOS, and Android support it. In Windows, go to Settings  Network & Internet  Wi-Fi and flip the switch under Hotspot 2.0 networks to turn it on. In Android, search for it in Settings.[br][br][br][strong]Be Your Own Hotspot[/strong][br][br] [br][br]Rather than risk everyone in a group using iffy Wi-Fi, one person could designate their own device as the hotspot. Almost all laptops and phones make it easy to become your own hotspot for others. The best person to do this is someone with a tethering-capable carrier data plan on their laptop, tablet, or phone—since the backhaul to the internet doesn't have to then go through the public Wi-Fi. It won't be fast, but it will be more secure.[br][br][strong]Take Your Hotspot With You[/strong][br][br] [br][br]Public access Wi-Fi is great, but you could just carry your hotspot with you. Cellular modem hotspots have their own battery, use cellular backhaul for an internet connection, and provide multiple people with Wi-Fi access. Sure, it costs more, but it might be worth it if you've got a lot of traveling ahead.[br][br][br][strong]Avoid Personal Data in Hotspots[/strong][br][br] [br][br]This is less a technical tip than a behavioral one: if at all possible, avoid doing more serious tasks like bill paying, accessing your bank account, or using your credit card when connected to public Wi-Fi. And filing your taxes at a hotspot? No way. Save those transactions for when you're connected safely to your home network, where you're a lot less likely to get targeted by snoops, since you already keep that one secure, right?[br][br][br][strong]Avoid Using Your Passwords[/strong][br][br] [br][br]There are a lot of passwords to remember, and you probably have to enter a few even while you're on public Wi-Fi. But if you've been compromised—say some hacker is sniffing the airwaves and pulling down data—anything you type and send to the internet could be equally compromised. That's why you should use a password manager like Keeper or Dashlane.[br][br][br][strong]Use a VPN[/strong][br][br] [br][br]This should go without saying: you need a virtual private network (VPN) when you're on a public network. We live in a surveillance/hacker state today that rivals that of Orwell's 1984—if you're not careful.[br][br][br][strong]Disable Sharing[/strong][br][br] [br][br]When you connect to a network with a PC, be it a Windows or Mac, the goal is typically to share some services—at the very least files and printing ability. If you leave that sharing option open at a hotspot and connect to the wrong thing, you're giving bad guys easy access. Disable it before you go out. In Windows 10, go to Settings  Network and Internet  Wi-Fi  Change Advanced Sharing Options (on the right) and look for Guest or Public—click the down caret to open that section. Click the radio buttons next to "Turn off network discovery" so your PC isn't seen, and "Turn off file and printer sharing" to avoid sharing.[br][br][br][strong]Use HTTPS and SSL[/strong][br][br] [br][br]Most websites use the HTTPS protocol to support SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to make your connection to them more secure—and avoid getting dinged by Google. You can typically tell if the site you're on uses HTTPS even if you can't see it listed in the URL. For example, a lock icon  and the word "Secure" appear at the start of the address bar in the Chrome browser on the desktop (the lock appears on most smartphone browsers).[br][br][br][strong]Keep Your OS and Apps Updated[/strong][br][br] [br][br]Operating system (OS) updates are an annoying yet necessary evil. OS updates are serious business; they often fix serious security holes. Once an update is available, everyone in the world knows about the holes in the previous iteration—if you haven't patched it, your device becomes low-hanging fruit ready to be plucked by an opportunistic hacker.[br][br][br][strong]Maybe Use That Firewall[/strong][br][br] [br][br]You may rely on the firewall in your  at home, but it should be paired up with the software firewall on your desktop PC. Windows 10 has a good, built-in one at Control Panel  System and Security  Windows Defender Firewall.[br][br]While a VPN is sufficient for most issues you'd face, make sure the Windows firewall is also up and running on your laptop. Click "Turn Windows Firewall on or off" to to block all incoming connections, for example. (It doesn't kill all traffic—you get web pages you request, for example. It only blocks incoming traffic you don't request.)[br][br][br][strong]Hope these tips will make your browsing safe and secure![/strong][br][br][br][a href="https://in.pcmag.com/networking/20501/14-tips-for-public-wi-fi-hotspot-security"]Source[/a]

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