Public officials say our public parks are becoming safer every day. Crime is down and prices are up. But before you jump on some gratuitous public Wi-Fi, watch out for your friendly neighborhood mugger hiding behind the very layer of data designed to lure users into a false sense of security. That's right- the existence of public WiFi in the park does not necessarily mean your browsing experience is secure. Some technological common sense is key. Below are practical tips for safety on public Wi-Fi.
Manage Those Settings
Windows turns on firewall settings by default if you request during set up. To see if it's working: Control Panel > Windows Firewall. In both sections of the window (top to bottom), check "Turn on Windows Firewall" and "Notify me when Windows Firewall blocks a new app".
No Sharing
Turn it off. Open Network and Sharing Center from Control Panel, > click "Change private advanced sharing settings" located in the left pane. Then Private > Files and printer sharing>Guest or Public>turn off network discovery. Click Save changes. Be sure to turn off file and printer sharing.
Use a VPN
A fair amount of sites use secure Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encrypted protection. This makes a tunnel through the public space for the data so that your info cannot be detected. Public Wi-Fi may lack this and so you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots securely and privately. Works via subscription payment model for a modest monthly price. Hotspot Shield is mildly ad supported but totally free.
Update Your Software
Keep antivirus software running and able. Update your browser and extensions to make use of new security patches and warnings. Watch for new and evolving threats. Nothing is absolutely guaranteed, but these steps will help to keep your info relatively safe in the new free public space.
