If you connect to a Wi-Fi network, and send information through websites or mobile apps, it might be accessed by someone else. To protect your information when using wireless hotspots, send information only to sites that are fully encrypted, and avoid using mobile apps that require personal or financial information. Encryption is the key to keeping your personal information secure online. An encrypted website protects only the information you send to and from that site. A secure wireless network encrypts all the information you send using that network.

Simple Steps to Protect Yourself on Public Wi-Fi



The risks of public Wi-Fi
We're all familiar with Wi-Fi, and the convenience it affords. Technically, Wi-Fi refers to a technology that enables computers and other devices to connect to the Internet and communicate wirelessly. Wi-Fi is configured using a wireless adapter to create a "hotspot. Wireless networks are located either in the home, which is generally referred to as a "closed network," or in public places, which can be open or closed depending on the security settings in place. Public Wi-Fi is often unsecured, posing security risks to users.


You Need More Than HTTPS to Stay Safe on Public Wifi
Most websites now use HTTPS to encrypt your connection and add an additional layer of protection to your data. Edit: An earlier version of this blog post could have been misunderstood as implying that TLS 1. We have removed the section which can cause this confusion. The Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, or HTTPS, encrypts the traffic between your device and a website, making it difficult for intruders to observe the information being shared.



Public Wi-Fi networks—like those in coffee shops or hotels—are not nearly as safe as you think. Even if they have a password, you're sharing a network with tons of other people, which means your data is at risk. Here's how to stay safe when you're out and about. Just because most wireless routers have a firewall to protect you from the internet doesn't mean you're protected from others connected to the same network. It's remarkably easy to steal someone's username and password , or see what they're doing just by being on the same network.