With free Wi-Fi available for use in most places nowadays, from airports to McDonalds, it can be tempting to log on. But is it safe to use free Wi-Fi? Let’s take a look at the different types.
Free Wi-Fi with no password to access it
Accessing free Wi-Fi that doesn’t have a password is hands down the easiest way to get hacked. Hackers commonly sit between you and the access point. So instead of sending your information to the access point, you send it directly to the hacker and they then have access to everything you do online; your emails, personal information, client information, credit cards, security credentials to your business apps etc. Once they have access to that data, they can access your systems as if they were you.
Free Wi-Fi with a password required to access it
It is common in places such as airline clubs, hotels and cafes to have the Wi-Fi network and password available to patrons. It’s usually placed somewhere you can easily see it. Because it has a password, the connection is encrypted, so the risk is definitely lower than the risk of accessing unsecured Wi-Fi. However, there is still risk, as the password is just as visible to hackers as it is to you, plus, many of these establishments don’t change the password very often.
Security tips
Sometimes you need to use the provided Wi-Fi. This is especially true when you’re working on the road. If you do choose to access free Wi-Fi, here are some things you can do to minimise the risk:
Never, ever use online banking.
Never visit a site that requires you to log in with personally identifiable information.
Turn off any file sharing apps and data syncs before you connect to the Wi-Fi. If a hacker does get in, or manages to impart some form of virus, malware or ransomware, the access they have will be more contained.
Only visit secure websites. Most browsers, like Chrome, will warn you if a site is unsecure. If you get a message advising that a site is not safe, or if you notice that the website is http, not https, stay away.
Use a VPN. Virtual Private Networks are excellent for data protection. They act a bit like a concrete tunnel sitting around the data you transmit. The hacker would need some serious tools to break through the tunnel to reach your data – and even if they did, they would only find unreadable, encrypted data.
Get data ‘insurance’ for small businesses
Most business owners know that if they lost their company data, their business would be stuffed. Losing a computer or a phone is not a biggie – hardware can be replaced. But once hackers have access to your data, they can kick you out of everything – financial software, cloud based apps, emails – the whole lot – and losing your data could see you lose the whole company. Businesses insure their most precious assets, whether it’s vehicles, tools, income, liability, but most businesses would never recover from complete data loss, and even a couple of weeks without access to company data could financially weaken or break a small business with limited cashflow.
