What are the risks of using public Wi-Fi ? Identity theft
Identity theft is a cybercrime with the primary goal of illegally obtaining someone ’ s data . Most commonly , cybercriminals use public Wi-Fi hotspots to steal people ’ s credit card information and commit financial fraud . With enough information about an individual , cybercriminals can apply for loans , withdraw money , make purchases and commit other crimes all in their name .
Data breach
Using public Wi-Fi safely is essential to avoid a data breach , which happens when hackers illegally access private information . Whereas identity theft mainly involves financial information , data breaches can affect any kind of information you store on your device . If you do not know how to use public Wi-Fi safely , cybercriminals can steal your photos , videos , documents and contacts among others .
Malware infection
Using public Wi-Fi makes you an easy target for browser hijackers who distribute malware to unsuspecting web surfers . You may be just opening a news website when a supposedly innocent-looking pop-up ad appears on the screen . What you do not know is that by accidentally clicking on it , you welcome dangerous software right into your phone or laptop .
Packet sniffing or eavesdropping
Packet sniffing or eavesdropping is the illegal monitoring of data transmitted between devices . Internet users without Wi-Fi hotspot protection risk not only losing critical information but also having their information modified . For example , your business partner might receive your message after it has been altered by cybercriminals to serve their nefarious purposes .
Keep Wi-Fi off when you do not need it
The well-known internet security company , Kaspersky Lab , recommends that even if you have not actively connected to a network , the Wi-Fi hardware in your computer is still transmitting data between any network within range . There are security measures in place to prevent this minor communication from compromising you , but not all wireless routers are the same and hackers can be a pretty smart bunch . If you are just using your computer to work on a Word or Excel document , keep your Wi-Fi off . As a bonus , you will also experience a much longer battery life .
Jacques Loubser
39