You’re sitting at your next-door Starbucks and ingconnecting your device to the local WiFi network while waiting for your friend to show up. It’s free, so why not use it to kill some time? However, this may put your public WiFi security at risk as you could be tapping into a fake WiFi hotspot and exposing yourself to a hacker.
If you regularly use free WiFi, it’s important to double-check before logging into open WiFi hotspots on your device. After all, you wouldn’t want the information you send through apps or websites to be accessed by somebody else. Read on to learn more about free WiFi scams and how to stay protected.
How do Free WiFi Scams work?
Hackers will set up a fake WiFi hotspot at the airport, hotel lobby, coffee shop, restaurant, or other public places with innocuous names like “Public WiFi network” or “Free WiFi.” They might use a service set identifier (SSID) similar to a nearby legitimate WiFi hotspot so that users don’t hesitate to connect to it.
While you can browse the Internet once connected, the hackers can see everything you do online as all your traffic passes through them. This is how they can steal your personal information, such as your credit card details, or even take over your device and its contents – if you’ve left your file sharing on!
There’s another version where you have to pay a small fee for Internet access. Upon signing into the fake WiFi hotspot, you’re redirected to a new page and prompted to enter your credit card information. Of course, these details are then accessible to hackers and used to commit identity fraud and other crimes.
How to Stay Safe from Free WiFi Scams?
It can be tricky to identify fake WiFi hotspots as hackers (if they’re good enough) design them to spoof or mimic those you commonly find in public places.
Nonetheless, some standard practices should be followed when using public WiFi connections, whether they’re legit or fake.
Check Authenticity of WiFi Connection
If you’re at a place with free WiFi, always verify the correct name and password of the WiFi hotspot from its owner before joining. Remember, if there’s no WPA or WPA2 password, the connection will be unencrypted and riskier.
Browse HTTPS Websites
Only browse sites that start with HTTPS while on public WiFi hotspots, especially when doing something as sensitive as online banking. This indicates your connection to the site is encrypted and reduces the risk of man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.
Use a VPN
If you travel a lot and rely on public WiFi hotspots for connectivity, consider using a virtual private network (VPN) like PureVPN. Not only does it mask your real IP address with one of its 88,000+ shared IPs, but it also encrypts the entire connection so you can browse the Internet securely. Furthermore, revolutionary Ozone features help combat malware, annoying ads, and malicious traffic! Not only this, but PureVPN allows travelers instant access to any channel from anywhere. E.g., if you are in the UK and want access to US Netflix, you can easily do it by securely contacting a Netflix VPN.
Manually Connect to Free WiFi
It’s crucial to ensure your device is configured to select a network instead of automatically connecting manually. Doing this will prevent you from unknowingly connecting to fake WiFi hotspots.
Update Software Regularly
Updating and patching software regularly is an essential WiFi security practice. Keep your browser and other software up-to-date with the latest versions to fix bugs. Also, an up-to-date antivirus will protect your device from the latest threats.
Employ Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by asking for a second authentication factor, such as a one-time code. This adds another step for hackers to access your online accounts, including social media and banking.
Switch WiFi off When Not in Use
Though this sounds obvious, most people mistake keeping their WiFi on for prolonged periods even when they’re not using it. Turning off your WiFi will go a long way in protecting you from hackers – if they can’t see you, they can’t target you!
Final Word
And that’s about it… Feel free to share this guide with your friends and family so they can take the necessary steps to secure their devices from fake WiFi hotspots. Follow the tips mentioned above to stay protected from free WiFi scams.
About Author:
Haris Shahid is genuinely passionate about covering the latest happenings in the cybersecurity and digital landscape. He likes getting out and about but mostly spends too much time behind a computer keyboard.
