The biggest threat to free Wi-Fi security is the ability for the hacker to position himself between you and the connection point. Hackers can also use an unsecured Wi-Fi connection to distribute malware. If you allow file-sharing across a network, the hacker can easily plant infected software on your computer.

Pros and Cons to using Wi-Fi and Cellular Internet

• PROS: Typically faster than cellular internet. Signal stability.
• CONS: Not as easily accessed as cellular. For “public” hotspots, extreme security risks.
• PROS: Mobility – ability to move the connection with the device being used.
• CONS: In many areas, major speed variances based on the tower being used.

Freedom. The internet brings freedom to its users in many ways; it gives people the freedom to learn what they want, to speak with whom they choose, to air their opinions, and even to work with people they have never, and will never meet.

5 Things to Avoid When Using Public Wi-Fi

• Watch out for phony Wi-Fi access points. Fake routers are designed to look legitimate, but hackers operate them.
• Never automatically connect to a public network.
• Limit your activity while using public Wi-Fi.
• Use secured websites or a VPN service.
• Turn your smartphone into a secure personal hotspot.

It is pretty easy to hack into a laptop or mobile device that is on a public Wi-Fi connection with no protection. Hackers can read your emails, steal passwords, and even hijack your website log ins. In some cases they can also read your emails that are going out and received, as well as texts you might be sending.

Online banking is typically safe. However, there are risks out there, and one of them is using public networks. If you need to get online, try to wait until you’re on a trusted network—whether you’re checking your bank account or the weather.

5 Tips to Keep Your Data Safe on Public Wi-Fi

1. Verify the Network; Configure and Turn off Sharing. Remember that hackers are very clever, so its better to surf and play smart.
2. Use a VPN. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the most secure option to surf on public networks.
3. Use HTTPS.
4. Keep the Firewall Enabled.
5. Use Antivirus.

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. Your sensitive information, such as passwords and financial data, are then vulnerable to identity theft.

When you’re tapping in to an unfamiliar hotspot, you could potentially be putting your personal data — and the security of things like your bank accounts, your passwords, and your identity — at risk. Even if a public WiFi hotspot looks secure, you might still miss the small red flags that signal trouble.

Despite being connected to the internet and having a VPN, there is a gap in coverage after you connect to WiFi but before you can turn on your VPN. Using a VPN in public is still much safer than logging onto a public network without any additional digital protection.

The bottom line: Public WiFi is safer now, but it’s not entirely safe. That’s especially true if you’re using mobile apps, where there’s often no way to tell whether data is being encrypted.

In the context of your home Wi-Fi network, having it set as Public isn’t dangerous at all. In fact, it’s actually more secure than having it set to Private! When your Wi-Fi network’s profile is set to “Public”, Windows prevents the device from being discoverable by other devices that are connected to the network.

When a network is set to private, your PC is discoverable to other devices on the network, and you can use your PC for file and printer sharing. Public network. Use this for networks you connect to when you’re out and about, such as a Wi-Fi network at a coffee shop.

All IP enabled devices have a private address identifying the device or local network. Each address must be unique to that network. An IP address is considered private if the number falls within one of the IP address ranges reserved for private networks such as a Local Area Network (LAN).

How do I make my router more secure?

1. Change your router username and password.
2. Change the network name.
3. Change the network password.
4. Deactivate WPS.
5. Don’t broadcast your SSID.
6. Make sure your router firewall is enabled.
7. Update your router’s firmware.
8. Use WPA2.

You Notice Unknown IP Addresses on Your Network If you’re logged into your router’s interface, you should regularly check the list of IP addresses utilizing your network. If you see an unknown address (especially a foreign one), this will most likely mean that a hacker has accessed your router.

Attack other people: Cybercriminals can hack your router and use it as part of a massive DDOS attack. Change your DNS settings: A common goal of a Wi-Fi router hack is to access your router’s DNS settings, which determine where it sends your internet traffic.

It’s entirely possible that your router might have been hacked and you don’t even know it. By using a technique called DNS (Domain Name Server) hijacking, hackers can breach the security of your home Wi‑Fi and potentially cause you a great deal of harm.

Use a Wi-Fi detective app You can search the app store for options, but one reliable app is called WiFi Guard, available for both iOS and Android. This app gives you a list of all connected devices, which you can scan to see if there are any devices you don’t recognize.

An attacker with full administrative rights on your device can send, receive, and sniff traffic to your wifi router and all other users on your network without connecting to the wifi themselves and without using your wifi password. They do not need to be in range of your wifi if they have remote access to your phone.