We’re always looking for a way to stay connected when we’re out and about. Especially for our devices that don’t have unlimited cellular data. Most of your major fast-food restaurants have free public Wi-Fi. You may even find that free Wi-Fi is available while you get your oil changed or while you wait for your flight at the airport.
Connecting to unprotected networks can leave you vulnerable to attacks from those looking to steal data on your device. The most common type of threat to open Wi-Fi is a Man-in-the-Middle attack. In this type of attack the hacker sits between the public network and your computer without you even knowing. They can steal passwords, hijack your email, text messages and more.
If public Wi-Fi absolutely must be used, only access those that require a password. Do not access any sensitive information like bank accounts while connected and try to use a VPN (virtual private network) when possible. A VPN sends data through an encrypted tunnel and makes it difficult for attackers to steal data.
Play it safe. Say no to free Wi-Fi.