The essential advice on how to protect yourself from an attack from public wifi could be – don’t use it. However, wireless networks are very popular, widespread throughout the world. So how to minimize risks?
1. Pay Attention to the Network Name
Check the name of the Wi-Fi network you want to connect to. Watch out for suspicious names like “FREE WIFI” or “Free Cafe Wi-Fi” if there is no coffee shop nearby. Such networks are created by hackers to catch you. It is best to check the name of the official freely available network with the shop, just ask the waiter in the restaurant, for example.
2. Turn off Wi-Fi
If you are using Windows, turn off automatic network discovering and connecting to Wi-Fi. If you are working on an Apple computer, turn on “invisible mode.”
If you do not need an internet connection at all, turn off the Wi-Fi adapter. It is because your computer has no way of knowing if you are in the same physical location where you have already logged on to a wireless network. Such Wi-Fi is relatively easy to fake and connects to it without you noticing.
3. Software update
Only with the latest software versions, you will be able to protect your devices. It applies primarily to updating antivirus, antimalware and antispyware programs. If you have the current version, you can be sure that the program will pay attention to the most recently detected threats. This is actually the most common mistakes that people do.
4. Use a Firewall
A firewall protects your device from hackers on the Internet who try to find a vulnerability on your computer and attack it. Therefore, every time you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, be sure to check the settings and make sure you have the firewall turned on.
5. Search for SSL Encryption
Most websites that require personal information and other sensitive information use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to encrypt communications. This technology is used by many websites, including e-shops, online casinos (JoyCasino or others) or mail servers.
Such a website will have the address “https” and a locked symbol at the beginning. However, this may not always be the case, so do not consider this recommendation to be 100% and do not send sensitive data such as credit card numbers in e-shops on public networks. If possible, use public wifi networks only to access sites that do not require a username and password.
6. Use VPN
To make sure that your surfing is adequately protected, no matter which network you use, consider setting up an account on one of the VPN services (Virtual Private Network). It does not matter if you are a regular internet user or advanced casino player who knows how to win at slots – these add a virtual barrier between your device and the Internet by transmitting all communication through the company’s VPN server in an encrypted format. It will allow your data to flow through an “encrypted tunnel”. Inside the tunnel, data flows safely, protected and isolated from the surroundings. It is often possible to use VPN connections, which are provided.
7. Do not Use Trivial Passwords
Have unique passwords for various services and change them regularly. But how do you create a 16-character or even longer password that you will remember? Just take a sentence and make a password from the first two characters of each word. For example: “I like waffles and a good coffee for breakfast.” Which could look like this: ILiWaAnAGoCoFoBr
Or, you could also use one of the password generators online—for example, https://passwordsgenerator.net/.
8. Different Passwords for Different services
The basic rule is: divide the Internet into at least three parts – work, privacy, entertainment – and create three basic types of passwords accordingly. If someone hacks the e-shop website and steals all user passwords or catch your password in an open Wi-Fi network, they will not have all data.
