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Public WiFi is convenient but not safe as hackers can steal personal information. Use a firewall, avoid conducting private business, shopping, and online banking, disconnect all networked computers, and turn off wireless when not in use.
Public WiFi® is everywhere you go, like in coffee shops, libraries, print shops and even some fast food restaurants. You can easily connect your laptop to it and you will be surfing the web in no time. While it’s convenient, it may not be safe. Hackers and scammers can tap into your unsecured connections and easily steal your personal information. You can protect your computer if you take a couple of precautions.
When using public WiFi, be sure to use a firewall. Firewalls give you extra, though not foolproof, protection from people trying to scam your information. Windows XP and Vista operating systems have built-in firewalls. If you need to set up a firewall on your laptop, visit the Microsoft website.
Public WiFi® locations are not the place to conduct business involving the use of private information. If a scammer enters your computer, all your personal information or that of your customers will be obtained. Even if you have a firewall, there’s no guarantee that your information won’t be stolen. Save the work for the office.
It may seem like a public WiFi® location is the perfect place to do some online shopping. In fact, it’s the worst place. When shopping online, you are likely to use your credit card to pay for your purchases. This puts your credit card information in cyberspace for dishonest people to use. Feel free to browse your favorite online stores, but save the actual purchase until you have a secure connection.
Never balance your checking account or use any other online banking service when you access the Internet in a public Wi-Fi® location. In addition to the stranger who may be watching your back, there are other people who may be tapping into your network connection. They can capture your username and password, as well as all of your personal information.
When using public WiFi, be sure to disconnect all networked computers and file sharing. If a hacker gains access to your computer, he will also be able to access any computer connected to your network. All information stored on computers will be accessible.
Turn off your wireless network if you are in a location that offers public WiFi® and you are not using your computer. This can be done by removing the wireless card or right clicking on the wireless network icon and selecting “disable”. Even when not in use, your wireless connection is still at risk of being tapped.
