Stay Safe on Public WiFi
Public Wi-Fi is notoriously unsecure. This makes it easy for hackers to spy on you or access private/proprietary information when you’re relying on the free public Wi-Fi available in hotel lobbies, coffee shops, bed-and-breakfast inns, and airports.
Fortunately, you can help protect private/proprietary information and passwords by surfing smart when traveling. Here are some tips to protect your online activity as you travel.
Use a VPN
A virtual private network, better known as a VPN, can protect you when you are using public Wi-Fi.
With the help of Global Protect VPN, the data you send and receive while browsing the internet is sent through a type of tunnel that encrypts it, meaning that hackers can’t see what sites you visit, files you download, or email messages that you send.
Only visit secure websites
If you do use public Wi-Fi to surf the internet, only visit sites with URLs that start with "HTTPS" and avoid those with URLs starting with "HTTP."
Why? The "S" in "HTTPS" stands for "secure.” This means that the data on that website is encrypted, making it more difficult for hackers to access.
Secure your mobile devices
Before taking your trip, visit the "Settings" page of your mobile devices. Turn off any features that automatically connect your devices to available Wi-Fi networks. This will give you more control over when your devices are logged onto the internet.
Use many unique, complex passwords
It's tempting to use the same password at different sites. But resist this urge. If you don’t, you face risks.
What if a hacker cracks the password to one of your accounts while you're traveling? If you are using that same password at several other accounts, that hacker can use it to access them, too.
Don’t forget to log out
When you’re done visiting a website, log out. You should never stay permanently logged onto accounts when you’re done with them. But this is especially risky when you’re traveling and using public Wi-Fi.