Unless you have absolutely no other option left, always connect to an encrypted network instead of an open one. Encrypted networks ensure that the data transmitted over them is unreadable when in transit between two or more network nodes, making them infinitely more secure than open networks. Encrypted networks: The other type of public WiFi networks are those that are encrypted and require user authentication.Such networks may be convenient to set up and use, but they should be considered as the last option how to connect to the internet because all data transmitted over them is exposed and can be easily captured and analyzed by anyone with basic computer skills. Open networks: A completely open network allows anyone to log in without providing any authentication details.After analyzing some 32 million public hotspots, Kaspersky Security Network came to the conclusion that 25 percent of public WiFi networks do not use any encryption at all, making it effortless for cybercriminals to simply come in and pick up the communications, a practice commonly referred to as WiFi sniffing.īut even encrypted public WiFi networks are not necessarily safe as there are several other common ways that hackers compromise them, including fake hotspots, man-in-the-middle attacks, malware, and others.Ĭlearly, there’s a certain risk associated with public WiFi networks, which is why it’s paramount to know how to stay safe on public WiFi.Īll public WiFi networks can be roughly divided into two broad categories: open networks and encrypted networks. Indeed, the state of public WiFi security is less than great. The company managed to capture sensitive information from 68 percent of the 1,200 people who used the fake public WiFi networks to connect to the internet, which confirmed its suspicion that people take WiFi security very lightly. Republican National Convention in Cleveland last year, network security vendor Avast set up three fake public WiFi networks to make a point about public WiFi security. Because public WiFi networks have become so ubiquitous, users often don’t think twice before establishing a connection.
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