Are you a fan of using PUBLIC WIFI HOTSPOT ? Then you should read this.
With the cost of mobile data still at a premium many Brits regulary dive into coffee shops, pubs or hotels to grab some internet action for free.
Public Wi-Fi is now comon across the UK with over 300,000 hotspots offering access to the web at no cost.
However, experts have just released a fresh warning about accessing sites using public Wi-Fi.
Get Safe Online is telling the public to be cautious when accessing or supplying private data when connected to public Wi-Fi hotspots – particularly sensitive information relating to bank accounts, payments and other personal data.
The online campaign says with more people than ever before potentially becoming the target of cyber criminals, simply because they don’t know how secure the wireless networks they’re using actually are.
The advice given by Get Safe Online relates to Wi-Fi networks that are commonly found in public places like cafes, hotel rooms, airports, and pubs. It warns that if not fully secure, these networks have the potential to be hijacked by cyber criminals who will seize the opportunity to defraud individuals or steal their identity – or both.
In addition, it also reports, cyber criminals have been known to set up fake hotspots on their own laptops in public places and fool members of the public into logging onto them.
Tony Neate, CEO of Get Safe Online, commented: “The UK has well over 300,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots in place – situated in many of the places we love to visit whether that be a high street shopping centre, hotel or restaurant."
"Although they may seem safe when logging in and even sometimes request a code, individuals could soon find themselves the victims of cyber crime.
“Although it may sound like the stuff of a spy thriller, cyber criminals can easily hijack public networks in order to steal our money and our most personal data – in some extreme cases, even our identity. Our advice is not to use public networks if you are looking to browse confidential information.”
If you are running low on data and need to access the web from a public hotspot there's plenty of tips to stay safe including:
1. Don’t use the public Wi-Fi provided in places such as cafes, pubs and hotel rooms if doing anything confidential online, including logging into online accounts.
2. Remember that just being given an access code or being asked for your email address, doesn’t indicate that the Wi-Fi connection is secure.3. Instead of using premises’ hotspots, use a mobile broadband dongle that is set to secure, your 3G or 4G data connection – even if it’s slower – or wait until you can access a router you know to be secure.
5. Wherever possible, use well-known, commercial hotspot providers such as BT Wi-Fi.
7. It’s OK to use public Wi-Fi hotspots for things that you don’t have to log into or aren’t confidential, like checking the news or planning (but not booking) your next holiday.
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