{"id":229,"date":"2014-02-28T15:16:00","date_gmt":"2014-02-28T15:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ntegrait.com\/6-essential-risk-mitigating-tips-for-using-public-wi-fi-networks.html"},"modified":"2014-02-28T15:16:00","modified_gmt":"2014-02-28T15:16:00","slug":"6-essential-risk-mitigating-tips-for-using-public-wi-fi-networks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ntegrait.com\/6-essential-risk-mitigating-tips-for-using-public-wi-fi-networks\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Essential Risk Mitigating Tips for Using Public Wi-Fi Networks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"WiFiDo you protect your laptops and mobile devices with anti-virus software? If not, it\u2019s critical to avoid using public Wi-Fi networks. Cybercriminals can easily intercept data sent over public Wi-Fi, yet 53% of mobile device owners use public Wi-Fi hotspots on a regular basis. Many locations, including hotels, coffee shops, and airports, offer free access to public Wi-Fi, however, it\u2019s not always worth the risk. If you must use public Wi-Fi, here\u2019s 6 tips to help you mitigate the security risks:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Avoid Automatic Connection<\/b><\/p>\n

Does your smartphone or tablet automatically connect to Wi-Fi hotspots? If so, change your settings to ensure permission is required. When mobile devices automatically connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots, there\u2019s no way to prevent the device from connecting to a malicious network. While most smartphones disable this option by default, it\u2019s important to double-check.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Be Suspicious<\/b><\/p>\n

Cybercriminals often set up phony hotspots to capture personal information from users. Sometimes these hotspots will be named after the location that\u2019s offering free Wi-Fi, so talk to an employee and make sure the hotspot is legitimate. Ask for the connection\u2019s name and IP address to avoid connecting to phony hotspots.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Use Anti-Virus Software<\/b><\/p>\n

Anti-virus software can help you prevent malware infections while your system is connected to an unsecured network. Make sure the anti-virus software is kept up-to-date and watch for alerts in case the system is compromised.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Turn On Your Firewall<\/b><\/p>\n

Most operating systems include a built-in firewall, however, make sure a firewall is enabled on devices. A firewall monitors incoming and outgoing traffic to detect and prevent threats to your device\u2019s security.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)<\/b><\/p>\n

A virtual private network is the most secure way to browse the Internet on a public Wi-Fi hotspot. A VPN routes your traffic through a secure network, which encrypts all of your data, even while you\u2019re connected to public Wi-Fi.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Avoid Specific Websites<\/b><\/p>\n

Cybercriminals tend to target specific websites, such as social networking websites or online banking services, to capture your personal information. Try to do online banking at home to minimize the risk of financial fraud and identity theft.<\/p>\n

For more tips to mitigate the risk of using to public Wi-Fi, give us a call at {phone} or send us an email at {email}. {company} can help you maintain privacy and security while using public Wi-Fi.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do you protect your laptops and mobile devices with anti-virus software? If not, it\u2019s critical to avoid using public Wi-Fi networks. Cybercriminals can easily intercept data sent over public Wi-Fi, yet 53% of mobile device owners use public Wi-Fi hotspots on a regular basis. Many locations, including hotels, coffee shops, and airports, offer free access…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":230,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-229","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-techtips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n6 Essential Risk Mitigating Tips for Using Public Wi-Fi Networks - IT Services in Virginia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ntegrait.com\/6-essential-risk-mitigating-tips-for-using-public-wi-fi-networks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"6 Essential Risk Mitigating Tips for Using Public Wi-Fi Networks - IT Services in Virginia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Do you protect your laptops and mobile devices with anti-virus software? 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