How can a Public WiFi put the user in a Jeopardy
Imagine, you are having a weekend gala time with your friends at a cafe in Lower Parel, and while sipping your latte you made an online payment to the Cafe using a Public WiFi. Sounds familiar? This is one of the common habits we all tend to do when we are outside and using Public WiFi.
No doubt there are many GOOD internet service providers in Mumbai like You Brands being one of them. They are many broadband service providers for, public, private and commercial uses. But, what makes a Public WiFi a risky affair? Before answering this, let us shed some light on ‘What is a Public WiFi?’
Public WiFi - All about it
Public WiFis are found in popular and crowded places like Airports, Coffee shops, restaurants, Malls, and hotels, giving free access to an internet connection. There are many good internet service providers providing access to fast-speed internet connectivity. These internet connections or hotspots are widespread and common for people to use around the premises. Without thinking, we tend to check our social media accounts, articles, do some online shopping, scroll between some news articles and many other things. These all can be REALLY RISKY while doing on a public WiFi.
Now, the main Question :
What makes a Public WiFi a risky affair?
The business owners feel too enlivening providing some free WiFi services to its customers but, the risks involved with Public WiFi are always hidden. The biggest risk of using a Public WiFi is a MitM (Man-in-the-middle) attack. To make it more understandable think it like technical eavesdropping. Like when you make an internet connection with the computer, this computer sends the data to a service/website and this connection is vulnerable to get attacked by a third person reading all the data, making your so-called ‘privacy’ no longer private.
The Internet service providers too can’t take full control over such attacks because of zero restrictions attached to a public WiFi as compared to private or commercial ones.
Another risk involved in using public WiFi, irrespective of whatever the Internet service provider is, the Malware. Yes, while using a public WiFi, a hacker can slip malware into your system without you even knowing about this. This is quite possible because of Software Vulnerability which is nothing but a security weakness in the Operating System or software.
The other risk and one of the MOST DANGEROUS one is, WiFi Snoofing and Sniffing. When you are using a Public Wifi, some hackers out there can eavesdrop on your activities with the help of some specially designed software kits and can pry on your all lately done internet activities, be it filling some details here and there, login to some of your account(s) and anything and everything you are doing on the Public WiFi. This also gives those hackers a gateway to hijack your accounts.
Do’s and Dont’s while using Public WiFi
Take note of Do’s first :
1. Disable the file sharing option.
2. Visit sites which uses HTTPS
3. Immediately log out of the account once you are done with the things in there.
4. Use a secure VPN(Virtual Private Network), while working on a Public WiFi making sure that your private things remain private.
And, now the Dont’s to be careful with :
1. NEVER allow your Wi-Fi to auto-connect to networks.
2. Before logging-in to any app, first, check the website and make assure it uses HTTPS.
3. Don’t leave your Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth on if you are not using either of them.
4. Avoid accessing the websites that hold some important credentials of yours like Financial or healthcare websites. Also, never Log onto an account which is not password protected.
Thus, it is always advisable to opt for a personal wi-fi connection from any esteemed brand like You Broad Band and enjoy long hours of internet surfing without facing any such risk.









