Using someone else’s wireless Internet service can be risky as the network owner can see almost everything. Encryption is necessary to secure the LAN from eavesdropping and prevent freeloading. Users should assign unique usernames and passwords for each registered site and avoid illegal activities.
With the availability of public hot spots and neighborhood wireless networks (WiFi) popping up in every direction, you may be wondering if using someone else’s wireless Internet service is safe. It’s not always clear exactly what the local coffee shop, a municipal network, or a neighbor can see if a person is using someone else’s network. If they wanted to, the network owner could be able to see almost everything that travels between a laptop and the network’s router.
Using any wireless Internet service may involve certain risks. When information is transmitted between a laptop and an open wireless router, anyone within range can use packet sniffing software to sniff the transmission. Someone listening can trap usernames and passwords, emails and file transfers. Only a connection made to a secure website remains secure, even across that network, because the encryption originates on the website and extends to the user’s computer.
To protect a wireless LAN from local eavesdropping, all information traveling between the laptop and the router must be encrypted using the software security options built into the wireless router. In this case, the entire LAN transmits in encrypted format. The router only decodes the traffic to send it to the Internet. This doesn’t make browsing the Internet any safer than it would be otherwise, but it does eliminate some of the risk associated with potential eavesdropping on the LAN side.
Securing a wireless network also prevents hitchhikers from parking within range of the network, then using the wireless LAN to connect to the Internet. Encrypted wireless networks require a username and password to gain access, preventing freeloading.
Many municipalities provide free wireless access for residents and visitors, which usually requires parking in a certain part of the city to be close at hand. These types of networks are rarely encrypted because requiring a password and username limits their accessibility. Many neighborhood networks are also unsecured, as are some corporate networks. In cases like these, using wireless Internet service puts a person at risk.
To increase their personal security while maximizing the convenience of using third-party networks, computer users should avoid using a single username and password for all their needs. When networking from a secure location, they must assign unique usernames and passwords for each registered site, for email, banking, shopping, and other needs. Most web browsers can remember website usernames and passwords, keeping them encrypted locally for security, then automatically populating them when the user visits a site. It’s also recommended that people occasionally change usernames and passwords associated with sensitive accounts.
Security schemes designed to protect privacy and personal information will not protect those who use someone else’s wireless Internet service for illegal purposes. For example, each network adapter has a unique MAC address that your computer reveals each time it connects to a network. In most cases it is relatively easy to trace a real-world user’s MAC address through various means, if the authorities are motivated to do so.
Knowing that using someone else’s wireless Internet can be risky, users may want to limit their activities on unencrypted networks accordingly. Whenever possible, they should avoid visiting sites that require a username and password, and postpone sending or collecting sensitive email or files until they can connect from a secure location.
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