The short answer is: Not very.<\/p>\n
Connecting via public Wifi hot spots is a hazardous business. Regardless of whether you\u2019re connecting via an open network (which is not password protected \u2013 like at the mall) or via a secured network (Like when you connect with the daily password at a coffee shop) you are placing yourself in a network environment with unknown users, and essentially becoming vulnerable to them.<\/p>\n
Any IT guy worth his salt would be able to hack into your un-encrypted messages, your browsing activity, and any passwords and usernames you\u2019re busy sending via that network. These are called \u201cMan-in-the-middle\u201d attacks \u2013 because essentially there is a \u201cman in the middle\u201d of you and the site you\u2019re trying to access who is \u201ceavesdropping\u201d on your \u201cconversation\u201d.<\/p>\n
Which is not to say you should never use public Wifi \u2013 but when you do there are certain common sense measures you can make use of to keep your personal data safe.<\/p>\n
If you have a choice \u2013 always pick a secured network<\/strong> (with password) over an open network (no password).<\/p>\n Make sure you\u2019re connecting to the official network<\/strong> of the establishment you\u2019re visiting. Some man-in-the-middle attackers will set up a Wifi network that looks similar to an official network to get you to connect via their network. For example, your coffee shop’s wifi name may be CuppaJoe1<\/em> while the man-in-the-middle has set up a network called CuppaJoe2<\/em>.<\/p>\n Do switch off<\/strong> your automatically connected apps. Those which you usually only use over Wifi.<\/p>\n Do turn off your Bluetooth.<\/strong><\/p>\n Do make use of a VPN<\/strong> when browsing via any public connection. This just gives you an added layer of anonymity and security.<\/p>\n Do select \u201cpublic network\u201d on your laptop<\/strong> or tablet when you connect. Windows will automatically kick in certain background security measures if it knows you\u2019re on a public network, such as turning off file sharing on the network.<\/p>\n Do visit sites which use HTTPS and SSL<\/strong> \u2013 Most Websites add a layer of security with the use of HTTPS protocol to support SSL (Secure sockets layer). You will know if the website you\u2019re visiting uses HTTPS if the lock icon and the word \u201csecure\u201d appear in the URL field.<\/p>\n