Think
Explore
From coffee shops and libraries to airports and shuttle buses, there are Wi-Fi hot spots almost everywhere you go. Have you ever thought about how safe it is to access public Wi-Fi? Many Wi-Fi hotspots are unprotected and unencrypted, which means your personal information is vulnerable. Hackers can even set up a free wi-fi hotspot to steal personal information.
- Disable automatic wi-fi connection. This will ensure you are not connecting to a malicious wifi hot spot without your approval.
- Disable file sharing on your laptop. If the file sharing is on, other users who are using the same network can steal files from you.
- Make sure when you are connected to an unknown wifi hotspot that you only access your email accounts that are on secure sites. The address of a secure site will begin with https:// instead of http://. Review tips for protecting your money online, and ensure the site you are accessing is secure.
- The safest way to keep your personal information private when using a public wifi hotspot is to access through a VPN because VPNs encrypt the data between your laptop and a VPN server. UBC offers a free VPN service to students, staff, and faculty members.
- Avoid connecting to an online banking website, or any other website that requires your credit card information while using a public wi-fi hotspot.
Links
- Wi-fi Security | Wi-fi Alliance
- Microsoft Disables Wi-fi Sense on Windows 10 | KrebsonSecurity.com (2016)
- ‘All wifi networks’ are vulnerable to hacking, security expert discovers | The Guardian (2017)
- Top 5 most dangerous Public WIFI attacks | eChannel News (2018)
- How to Make Your Wifi Router as Secure as Possible | Lifehacker (2018)
- How I hacked into my neighbour’s WiFi and harvested login credentials | Medium (2018)
- Hacker Demonstrates Security Risks Of Free Public Wi-Fi | CBS Boston (2018)
Discuss
The Digital Tattoo Project encourages critical discussion on topics surrounding digital citizenship and online identity. There are no correct answers and every person will view these topics from a different perspective. Be sure to complete the previous sections before answering the questions.
- What precautions do you take to ensure that the public wi-fi hotspots you use are secure?
- Are you ever concerned about the safety of your personal information when using wi-fi?
1. Use a VPN to encrypt data, watch out for people who peer over your shoulder, join only private networks you can trust, even if it is very limited.
2. No, I only use my house internet and stay clear of sites I don’t trust.