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There’s no doubt about it: public WiFi is a lifesaver at times. When you’re out and about and need to connect to WiFi, using a public WiFi connection is something you probably do without thinking twice. But Tech Security Expert Jamil Aziz at PureVPN spoke with SHEFinds to set the record straight and answer a burning question — should you be connecting to public WiFi? Here’s everything you need to know.
The biggest issue is that public WiFis are not running on WPA2 protocol, which is usually present in your home WiFi and makes sure your WiFi is password protected, according to Aziz. “Once hackers manage to hack into your phone, they can access all the information they want,” Aziz says.
The biggest issue is that public WiFis are not running on WPA2 protocol, which is usually present in your home WiFi and makes sure your WiFi is password protected, according to Aziz. “Once hackers manage to hack into your phone, they can access all the information they want,” Aziz says.
If you’re wondering what kind of information hackers can get ahold of, Aziz lists just a few of the multiple things he says hackers can access once your device is compromised:
All email accounts and passwords
All sent and received documents
All email communication
All content of webpages visited
Authentication tokens
Credentials for unsecured websites
Remote control/VNC sessions
Encrypted transaction details
Pop-based email credentials
VoIP logs (calls + messages)
The good news is that there are steps you can take to protect yourself. According to Aziz, these are the five most important things you can do:
1. Setup 2FA authentication for all your online accounts as any access to your account will need your confirmation
2. Turn off your WiFi after use
3. Avoid uploading or downloading
4. Do not make financial transactions on public WiFi
5. Use virtual private networks when connecting to public WiFi
Be careful and safe and you’ll be able to continue using public WiFi when needed.
