What are the different risks in using free WiFi and how you can eliminate them with a VPN?
Offering free WiFi has become a staple of any good service, regardless
of the sector, making public WiFi security one of the biggest concerns
today when it comes to our privacy and cybersecurity.
It is always nice to go somewhere and know that you are not wasting your
mobile data plan, especially when it comes to social media and video
calls. And the same way you look if someone is glancing at your screen
or listening on your conversation, you should protect yourself from
people who want to snoop on the connection itself.
Having a VPN is the obvious choice, as it will encrypt your entire connection, even from the WiFi router you are connecting to.
Thankfully, premium VPN providers have this issue in mind, and companies
have not only developed military-grade encryption VPN for your desktops
and laptops but also apps that work on smartphones and tablets.
Finally, if you want to make your guests feel safe, they also provide a VPN router that protects all devices that connect to it.
What is ‘’Free WiFi’’?
There are three types of ‘’free’’ internet access, and we should all be
aware what we are giving instead of money for that access.
First, there are bars, pubs, and hotels. While cybersecurity here is the
best of this bunch, it is still far from being considered safe. Even if
the WiFi is only for our room, you are still not the one in control of
the router.
Then there is the ‘’service’’ internet that is free only if you enter
your information to log in. You will usually see this type in airports
and bus stops. Unless you are allowed to log in with a fake name and
email, and you have a premium VPN, you should avoid connecting.
Finally, there is the open WiFi that can be seen in most urban places
and public buildings. This is a huge gamble if you don’t have a VPN,
as it can be just an innocent free WiFi paid by the taxpayers or a MitM
attempt that wants to both steal all of your private information and
infect other devices you will later come into contact.
Service WiFi and Hotspots
If you are at a bar, or some other place that services customers, you
will often see a ‘’Free WiFi’’ posted somewhere. This has become such a
regular thing that some places even try to do publicity stunts by
declaring that they don’t offer it.
In general, especially if we are talking about small businesses, these
connections are safer than public WiFi and usually don’t have a lot of
issues when it comes to your local bar trying to steal your private
info. Probably because the bartender already knows more than they will
ever need.
But, if you are in a large chain that tends to sublet their internet
setup to smaller companies, you might find yourself exposed to hacking,
snooping, and data collection, as public WiFi security is not a
significant factor in the operations of these businesses.
If you are often in this type of venue, it is best to have a hotspot app with a VPN connection. Professional VPN service
providers like Le VPN provide access to mobile devices on all
platforms, including Android and iOS, which is easy to use and might
just save your identity.
Business WiFi
The WiFi provided to employees is a very tricky category, as it could be
the safest and the least safe option from the bunch, depending on the
company.
Officially, it is illegal for a company to spy on their employee’s
private browsing and communication. But, many companies break this rule
in fear of espionage or malpractice.
Additionally, some companies will ban the use of VPNs when it comes to
their wireless network, which you should see as a red flag.
If that is the case in your workplace, just narrow down your private
communication, including social media, to a bare minimum, and use your
data plan for that as well.
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