Ways to use public Wi-Fi safely
It is important to remember that public Wi-fi is just that — public. Using public networks can be convenient, but without proper security, logging on to websites that feature personal information, such as a banking web site, can be similar to leaving your wallet sitting on a park bench. In 2007, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 800,000 consumer fraud and identity theft complaints and losses cost victims more than $1.2 billion.
The first thing to do in a public space is find the name of the network to connect to. Hackers sometimes set up similarly spelled networks, such as HavaHouse instead of JavaHouse. This is called an Evil Twin Attack. Once connected to the imitation network, hackers can get information from the computer and internet activity. It is important to verify the name of the intended network before connecting to one.
