They are important and convenient. You may need to access Wi-Fi for an emergency or just to check your email. But you should be cautious when accessing public Wi-Fi. Here are some reasons why.
High Security Risks
Public Wi-Fi networks have little, if any, security measures in place. This means they are the perfect hunting grounds for hackers. This is not a rare occurrence. It happens often.
The extent of the damage that can be done depends on what type of device you use. If you are on a laptop, it is possible to download something that you think is legitimate, but isn't. If you do, you could wind up with a virus that can damage your system and your hard drive.
The risk can be just as great for a cell phone or a tablet. You can damage your SD card, making it impossible to retrieve data from it. You will probably need SD card data recovery services to salvage it.
Rogue Networks
These are networks that you think are legitimate. They are labelled with names that are similar to the area you are in. If you are sitting in a hospital, the network may say "St. James Hospital Wi-Fi."
You can connect to these networks without the use of a password. Once you connect to a rogue network, a hacker can use software to access your system. They can even access memory cards. This can result in damage and extra fees for memory card recovery services.
Be Prepared
If you absolutely have to access public Wi-Fi, be prepared. The first thing you need to do is protect your device. Download a virus scan or a similar program. These can block potentially hazardous software, or at least alert you to them.
To be safe, only login to a Wi-Fi network that needs a username and password. Don't take chances. If you see two public networks available, such as "St. John's Hospital" and "St. John's Hospital 1," don't use either of them. Ask an employee which one is theirs. Get the login information, and use that to access the network.
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