LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Staying connected while traveling is important to many of us, but if you use public Wi-Fi while on the go, don’t expect anything to stay private- even your most sensitive information.
The free Wi-Fi offered at airports or in coffee shops is shared, meaning everyone around you is on the same network. There’s technology out there that allows bad actors to view any wireless communications within range of their device. That includes any sensitive data you share with the sites you visit, including passwords.
The wireless hotspot on your phone may also be risky to use in public without adding some extra security. First, create a strong password using a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Then, visit your security settings and turn off the SSID broadcast to keep your network’s name private. You can also enable encryption under settings.
If you absolutely have to use public Wi-Fi, only visit websites with HTTPS in their URLs. The “S” means secure, which indicates that the site is encrypted to protect your information. You may also opt for a virtual private network, or VPN. These networks guarantee your security, even on non-secure sites.
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