Why-No for Wi-Fi
By Jacques Loubser , PPS Group Chief Information Officer
What is the first thing many people ask the moment they arrive at a venue ? It is most likely , “ What is the Wi-Fi password ?” As much as this is regarded as a standard benefit , should one use public Wi-Fi or not ?
The temptation to use public Wi-Fi does not only rear its head when travelling but when there is loadshedding and batteries on cellphone towers run flat leaving you without an internet connection , heading towards a coffee shop in an area where there is electricity – and more importantly – public Wi-Fi .
However , using public Wi-Fi could have serious consequences .
Among the main public Wi-Fi dangers are the risks of data breaches and malware infections . Public Wi-Fi hackers can intercept the information you transmit via an unprotected connection . Cybercriminals can present you with an imitation of a legitimate website , tricking you into downloading malware .
Using an unsecured public Wi-Fi network provides hackers with a huge opportunity . Here is what makes it vulnerable :
• No or weak password protection
• Misconfigured Wi-Fi routers
• Outdated router software
• Plenty of careless users
• Joining a fake Wi-Fi hotspot
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