The Dangerous "Public WIFI" Sign

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How many of you have gone to your local coffee shop, diner, or library and used their WIFI?  “Free Public WIFI” signs are a very common way for businesses to attract more customers, and while they are enticing, it is important to know the dangers involved and how to protect yourself against them.

Public WIFI Not Safe

For those of us old enough to remember when cordless phones were fairly new, there were times when your handset could pick up other conversations and you could listen in.  When you connect to a wireless network, you’re broadcasting a signal to the router, which in turn is connected to the Internet.  That signal can be picked up by other people who could see what sites you were browsing and, possibly, see some personal information.

Secure Your Stream

What is the answer to this?  Use a Virtual Private Network or VPN.  Using a VPN adds a further layer of security on your network traffic.  What it essentially does is put your data in a tunnel of encrypted packets that, if intercepted, can’t be easily deciphered.  Even your ISP (Internet Service Provider) cannot see what sites you’ve visited.  Many businesses use a VPN when they remotely access their companies’ network.

 

And while you are securing your digital data, don’t forget to secure your physical data as well with our NAID-certified service.