Written by Christopher Warner, CBU senior and Cybersecurity intern:
Public networks are risky because anyone can enter the network with little to no authorization. Malicious actors can take advantage of poor network security by prying on user activity, collecting confidential information, or redirecting users to unsecured webpages. If you must use public wi-fi, use a VPN and stick to websites beginning with “https.” Avoid sharing highly valuable data like credit card information, banking details, or social security numbers (SSN) while on a public network!
Some hackers set up an impostor network posing as a legitimate public network, or even brute force their way into an administrative account on a poorly secured router. Either way, these networks are completely unsafe regardless of the user’s security measures, so they should be avoided no matter what!
As a rule of thumb, use public wi-fi only as a last resort. If an urgent matter requires Internet access, consider using wireless data instead.