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It is becoming increasingly more difficult for us to live a Wi-fi-less existence — even when we’re out and about in public. Fortunately, open Wi-fi networks make that connection convenient and accessible when we roam far from home, but it’s important to be aware of security risks associated with public Wi-fi. Bram Jansen, Chief Editor of vpnAlert spoke with SHEFinds.com about the scary way your data could get stolen through public Wi-fi.
According to Jansen, most open Wi-Fi is un-encrypted, which means literally anyone can hack into the data being transmitted over the network.
“Transmitting sensitive information over public Wi-Fi can affect actively and passively,” Jansen says. “Passively, your traffic while transmitting information can easily be intercepted or sniffed between the web browser and webserver by anybody to capture any file transferred, read email and even steal cookies to authenticate themselves as you to websites.”
Another way you are vulnerable while using public Wi-fi is via a “Man-in-the-Middle-Attack,” which Jansen says is “allowing an attacker to intrude between you and a webpage you are visiting due to which it is possible to interrupt or even tamper with the data transmitted.”
There are two ways that Jansen says you can be secure while accessing public Wi-Fi.
The first is through two-factor authentication. “An additional security layer goes a long way,” Jansens says. “Two-Factor authentication is usually that other login code that is required to access an account, making it difficult for a cyber bandit to hack into your account.”
The second is the use of an "Encryption Virtual Private Network (VPN).” “This is a common technique for protection in potentially hostile network environments that will allow any attacker stealing your data to see only encrypted information,” Jansen says.
Know the risks of using public Wi-fi – and then take these two precautions to protect yourself against security threats.
