Everything you need to know before connecting to public Wi-Fi

The use of public Wi-Fi can be dangerous, say security experts cybercriminals using more and more the free hotspot to steal personal information from users who are connected to them

Whether the use of 3G or 4G data is considered the most appropriate means of connection, there are times when the mobile phone signal does not allow it, so a public Wi-Fi connection is the inevitable solution. Here, following the steps proposed by ESET users can be sure that they will choose as much as a reliable and secure hotspot

Check the authenticity of the network before you connect

The worst thing you can do is to think that a Wi-Fi network is safe without first checking it. A general rule is that we do not connect to any network called "Free Wi-Fi" because even if it is not a malicious hotspot, it can be necessary to subscribe to a newsletter or an obligation of

Mark James, security specialist at ESET, says: "If that is a place shared (cafeteria, McDonalds, etc.), ask one of the employees of WiFi's good name – do not just log in to the first network you see. "

What to do after logging in to a hotspot public

Share function has been disabled – look for the appropriate setting according to the device and the operating device you are using. Most browsers offer the option to enable HTTPS (Safe Browsing) by default, Make sure you check that it is actually enabled

many services – such as Google Mail – while others will display the option of activation. In the second case, look for this option in the "Settings" menu of the accounts and activate it. If you need to connect to a corporate environment (server, email), use VPN – if not, expect to find a safer connection

Finally, do not use financial and personal data: do not buy anything, do not visit the website of your bank

Prefer to see the e-mails and Facebook messages of your computer

Hijackers monitor network traffic while waiting Users type pbadwords into their local media accounts. That's why you prefer to enter these accounts from your computer, because you can check if your browser is secure (eg via HTTPS).

Mark James, ESET Security Specialist says, "I would personally limit my activities to anything that does not require a username and pbadword to log in, but keep in touch with me. mind that most smartphone apps will connect automatically. If you send business emails or emails with sensitive information, it is best to use encryption (learn more)

Which Public Hotspot You Should Absolutely Avoid

] In remote areas or in some Far East countries, it is perfectly normal to find Wi-Fi networks without any security. These are networks that facilitate the movement of visitors to the hotel, bar or cafeteria. Do not connect to these hotspots, ESET Mark James warns: " You will not be able to understand your data and you will not understand "

Forget the hotspot completely when you disconnect [19659004] Even Wi-Fi hotspots owned by major commercial channels are at risk. These smartphones can store the public Wi-Fi hotspot and connect as soon as they reach their default reach, without the user being warned

That means that it is not possible to use the smartphones. they can also connect to a hotspot with the same names that redirect users to malicious sites that collect user names and pbadwords For this reason, it is recommended to inspect carefully your smartphone to know the list of known networks .

For even more useful safety tips, check out on ESET's blog