One of the dangers of using a public Wi-Fi network is that data over this type of open connection is often unencrypted and unsecured, leaving you vulnerable to a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack. What is MITM? It’s when a cybercriminal exploits a security flaw in the network to intercept data.
Essentially, this gives a hacker access to sniff out any information that passes between you and the websites you visit — details of browsing activities, account logins, and purchase transactions. Your sensitive information, such as passwords and financial data, is then vulnerable to identity theft.
Another risk of using free public Wi-Fi is that you may be connecting via a rogue hotspot. This is an open hotspot, usually with a name similar to that of a legitimate hotspot, which cyber criminals set up to lure people into connecting to their network. Once a victim connects to the rogue Wi-Fi hotspot, the host hacker can then intercept data and even use tools to inject malware into the connected devices.
Did you know that 60% of consumers think using public Wi-Fi is riskier than using a public restroom? Yet, while the Norton Cybersecurity Insights Report revealed that people are aware of the risks of public Wi-Fi, the survey also showed that people are not practicing safe security habits online.
Here are a few tips to help you make it harder for cybercriminals to steal your information on public Wi-Fi:
Avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi. If you must use a public Wi-Fi hotspot, also use a virtual private network (VPN) to secure your connection. The Norton Secure VPN works on PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets to make your public Wi-Fi connections private.
Don’t log in to password-protected websites that contain sensitive information when using a public Wi-Fi connection — for example, banking and social networking sites, or even email.
Keep your software patched and up to date on all your devices — even your mobile ones — to avoid any potential infections by viruses or malware if you do use unsecured public Wi-Fi.
One More Security Habit: Use a Virtual Private Network
A VPN creates a “secure tunnel” where data sent over a Wi-Fi connection is encrypted, making all that data sent to and from your device secure. Using a VPN, such as Norton Secure VPN, is a better Wi-Fi security habit that can protect you when connecting to the Internet on the go. Norton Secure VPN helps keep your information protected and your identity private and anonymous so you can connect without worry wherever you go.
Tips:
-Never perform crypto transactions through public Wi-Fi, even if you are using a
VPN:
-Regularly update the firmware of your own router, as hardware manufacturers are constantly releasing updates aimed at protecting against key substitution.
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Impenetrable Private Crypto Banking System: private keys never stored, anywhere, at any given time. The Private Key (PK) is safely generated by you, known only to you, and can be accessed only by you. The Encryption Algorithms are generating the PK while not storing it, at any given time. Remember that the Private Keys is generated by you, on the spot, with a passphrase, when needed, for just a few milliseconds, just to sign in the transaction and then disappear permanently from the device used.