This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
As with browsers, all Wi-Fi networks are not one and the same. Some networks are more secure and better for your privacy and data, while others can pose a bigger threat to your security. But how can you tell the differences among them? We spoke with two tech experts to get to the bottom of the unexpected Wi-Fi network you should stop using on your iPhone. Here’s their top answer, as well as an additional point to keep in mind.
Avoid Public Wi-Fi Networks
There are times when you are out and really want to look up information online or even directions to the nearest restaurant. But relying on public Wi-Fi networks is something you should only do once in a blue moon, according to tech experts.
“Connecting to public Wi-Fi networks can be tempting since they are generally free and don’t require passwords,” says Therese Schachner, a cybersecurity consultant at VPN Brains. “However, public Wi-Fi networks have many cybersecurity risks associated with them.”
Attackers can intercept Internet traffic on public Wi-Fi networks, gaining access to your usernames and passwords, credit card data, and other personal information, Schachner says. “They can also spread malicious content, such as malware, on public Wi-Fi networks,” she notes. “For example, when you try to access a website that requires login credentials, attackers on the network can send you a false version of that website and collect your username and password after you enter this information.”
Since the consequences of these cyberattacks may include identity theft and the compromise of the devices you were using to access the Internet, Schachner says it’s generally safest not to use public Wi-Fi. “Alternatively, you can take precautions, such as using VPNs, when connected to public Wi-Fi,” Schachner adds.
Another point to keep in mind is how you are using Bluetooth on your iPhone.
“The odds of your telephone being hacked through Bluetooth is microscopic as long as your iPhone was not jailbroken,” says Brian Kelso, founder and CEO of BSK DATA and ELECTRICAL PTY LTD. “In case you keep your telephone refreshed to the most recent rendition of iOS that it can run, Apple will keep on issuing updates to address any security issues found. Simply do that and you will be fine.”
Be that as it may, leaving your Bluetooth on all the time can be risky, Kelso warns, and programmers are taking advantage of the innovation to get to private data, spread pernicious programming and that's just the beginning.
“Would someone be able to interface with my Bluetooth without me knowing? Hypothetically, anybody can interface with your Bluetooth and gain unapproved admittance to your gadget in case the permeability of your Bluetooth gadget is on,” Kelso says. “The most serious issue is that few remote conventions are going after data transmission, including all of your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi gadgets. Bluetooth moves information a lot more slowly than Wi-Fi does.”
Avoid taking unnecessary iPhone privacy risks by only relying on public Wi-Fi when absolutely necessary and turning Bluetooth off when you’re not using it.
