In Case You Missed Us: Public Wi-Fi on Tech Talk with KTRS

Think about your ritual every time you step foot in your favorite coffee shop. Order your drink, take a seat and open your laptop, sip on your latte, connect to the Wi-Fi and check your email. Seems harmless and relaxing, but you could be putting yourself at risk. Our IT Expert, Jeff Groby joined the Guy Phillips Show on The Big 550 KTRS last Friday for Tech Talk to talk about the dangers of using public Wi-Fi. Never fear, Jeff came armed with tips to help keep you safely browsing the internet and drinking your cherished latte in peace!

3 Tips for Using Public Wi-Fi

1. Check to make sure you're using a secured Wi-Fi network. A lot of times, your computer or device will warn you before you connect to an unsecured network. Don't throw caution to the wind when connecting to a public Wi-Fi network.
2. Use a VPN. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network and is a great way to add an extra layer of protection when using public Wi-Fi. This solution allows users the opportunity to send and receive data while maintaining the security of a private network. You can even buy or rent VPN's to keep yourself safe when bouncing around on public Wi-Fi.
3. Be smart. If you don't follow the tips mentioned above about protecting yourself on a public network, be smart about what you are using the Wi-Fi for. Don't do things like checking your email, online banking, or shopping. Doing things like that can land you in hot water should your network be unsecured and a cyber criminal is on the lookout. Our favorite tip to give is to always be a critical consumer when using the internet.

But wait, there's more! Jeff got on the topic of malicious hotspots. We recognize hotspots as a secured Wi-Fi connection because many people have the ability to set up their own personal hotspots. Naturally, if you're doing something yourself, you think everything is secured. Sadly, there are such things as a malicious hotspot!

How to Spot a Dangerous Wi-Fi Source

Large cities like Mumbai have been setting up public hotspots all across the area for people to use. Mumbai has over 500 public Wi-Fi hotspots running throughout the city! Public Wi-Fi hotspots like in Mumbai are popping up all across the globe. While this may sound like a move in the right direction as things continue to become more digital, cyber criminals found a way to turn a happy opportunity into a dark one.

The hotspots set up by the cities all have specific names and locations, and cyber criminals have taken advantage of that. They've set up hotspots of their own with names similar to those set up by the city in efforts to try and trick users into connecting and using their malicious hotspot. If successful, the cyber criminals can take advantage of the unsuspecting user and their private information.

The internet can be a dangerous place. Luckily, there are just as many ways to protect yourself cyber criminals as there are ways for users to become a victim. Through educational resources and information, the experts at SumnerOne have your back. Check out our full video down below from Tech Talk last week with The Guy Phillips Show. Be sure to tune in this Friday afternoon at 4:20 for our next segment of Tech Talk on The Big 550 KTRS.