Keeping safe on public Wi-Fi

Privacy concerns have been raised with regards to public Wi-Fi, as NSW State Transit introduces the service on all public buses.

This issue is further compounded by the fact that some internet service providers collect and store personal user information.

According to their terms and conditions, ‘Catch’ Wi-Fi service may be collecting user information such as name, address, date of birth, location details, driver’s licence details, photographs, video, credit card details, employer and other information.

There are concerns that this information may be shared with third-party advertisers, in order to tailor ads to passengers. It also leaves the public open to having their personal information leaked or hacked.

With a huge increase in the number of people using public Wi-Fi, the number of online hackings has also been increasing. Hackers often position themselves as a lookalike Wi-Fi hotspot or use simple hacking methods to enter the computers of anyone using an open network. The result can be the loss of personal information, loss of credit card data or hacking of banking accounts. Those who are shopping online or doing other financial transactions are especially vulnerable.

NordVPN advises that Wi-Fi users should ensure they are connecting to an official network, and not a look-alike that might be spoofed. Additionally, strong passwords for online accounts make it harder for hackers to break in.

The most effective way for a public Wi-Fi user to protect their data is to use a VPN, which encrypts all the traffic flow to the internet-enabled device and helps to hide the user’s IP address.

It is also important to turn on a firewall and install a reliable antivirus program.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Stephan John

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