Public networks are so convenient, they’ve popped up everywhere: cafes, airports, shopping centers. They’re almost everywhere.
But be warned: since your data is traveling through the air—sometimes completely unprotected—hackers could be listening in.
Bad guys could:
- Eavesdrop on what you are doing
- Steal your passwords
- Intercept your communications and alter them, aka a Man-in-the-middle attack
When you’re connecting to an unknown Wi-Fi or network, ask yourself these questions:
- Who owns the network?
- Who else is on the network?
If you don’t know the answers to those questions, don’t do sensitive things like shop or bank online. Wait until you’re home or on a network you trust.
If you absolutely must access your bank accounts or shop for things, use a VPN like AVG Safe Surf to stay protected.
