Topic > The impact of free Wi-Fi on users and preventive measures

IndexDangers of using public Wi-Fi and remediesRelated questionsHow to minimize the risks imposed by computer viruses, hacking, spyware and phishing?Software suites security suites that offer protection against computer viruses, hacking, spyware and phishingCategories of cybercrime perpetrators and other intrusionsDangers of using public Wi-Fi and remediesSecurity is no longer just a machine issue, so you need a suite security to provide protection to all devices in use for example; Windows PC, Mac, Android smartphone or even iPad. Public Wi-Fi can be found in popular public places such as airports, restaurants, shopping malls, coffee shops, and hotels that allow their customers to access the Internet for free. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Public “hotspots” created in these places are so widespread and common that people can regularly connect to them without thinking twice. It seems harmless to log in and have access to your social media accounts or browse new articles, everyday tasks that require you to log in, such as reading your email or accessing your bank account, however it could be risky when performing these tasks using Wi- Public Fi. This warning is because security on these public Wi-Fi networks is likely non-existent or lax. Some of the dangers associated with using public Wi-Fi networks include; Man-in-the-middle attacks that include eavesdropping (Symantec employee, n.d.). The vulnerabilities may allow cyber hackers to intrude into the transmission of data from your PC to the service or website provided in public places and "read" it. Therefore, there is no more privacy as you thought. Snooping and sniffing are another danger where cyber attackers can purchase special software tools and devices that allow them to intercept Wi-Fi (Symantec employee, n.d.). This technique allows cybercriminals to access everything a person has done online and recover login details which they will use to hijack user accounts. Another danger of using public Wi-Fi is the presence of malicious hotspots where cybercriminals create “rogue access points” to trick victims into connecting to what is believed to be a legal network because the name seems reliable (Symantec employee, n.d.). For example, when a person seeks accommodation at the “Palazzo Reale” inn and would like to connect to the public Wi-Fi network provided by the hotel, the cybercriminal can create a Wi-Fi network and give it a name that sounds similar to that of the hotel, say “Royal Place” inn, the two names sound similar In case a person connects to the latter hotspot, the cyber attacker who set up the deceptive Wi-Fi will have. access to sensitive information. Other issues with accessing public Wi-Fi include; unencrypted networks and malware distribution. To avoid exposing my personal information when accessing public Wi-Fi, I will disable file sharing, I will only visit users. websites via HTTPS, to ensure I log out of all my accounts after using them, Use a virtual private network (VPN), such as Norton Wi-Fi Privacy, and to make my connection to public W0Fi private (Symantec employee, n.d. ). Using VPN has been considered the best way to protect your personal information when connected to a public Wi-Fi network.Related QuestionsHow to minimize risks imposed by virusescomputer viruses, hacking, spyware and phishing? Fortunately, there are measures that minimize the risks posed by computer viruses, hacking, spyware and phishing. The first measure to take is to install a firewall on your PC, usually available in the form of software or hardware. The firewall protects the PC from hackers and viruses by classifying the information allowed into the users' network (Identify Theft Killer, n.d.). In case your PC arrived without a built-in firewall, you can install a hardware firewall, such as those supplied with several home broadband routers or software found through security software. Second, install antivirus software used to detect and prevent harmful viruses from interfering with your PC by looking for any indicators of virus activity. A virus is very dangerous as it can corrupt or delete data on your PC, delete your hard drive, use email, and send instant messages to spread problems to other PCs (Identify Theft Killer, n.d.). Third, install anti-spyware. on your PC to prevent or delete software that is installed on computers without user permission and is often harmful to PC security. Spyware attempts to monitor PC users' behavior to collect personal details, reconfigure the PC, or forcibly enable unwanted pop-ups and advertisements on its behalf (Identify Theft Killer, n.d.). As long as spyware is installed on the PC, it is not easy to get rid of it, so the sooner the PC is protected from it using an antispyware the better it will be for the person. Fourth, install a spam blocker or filter in your email account. This is because spam can be one of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to trick you (Identify Theft Killer, n.d.). Using a spam blocker or filter is the best form of security compared to being careful about opening and downloading files from emails. Finally, antiphishing, a service used to address certain types of attempts to recover personal or sensitive credentials by offering tolls that allow the user to identify Web phishing. Some anti-phishing services involve complicated planning designed to help customers evade data theft (techopedia.com, n.d.). For example, a timely reaction to unauthorized access is the key to a successful “phishing instance response plan”. The anti-phishing tool and services usually offer certain components to help recognize how data was taken without their consent, how data can be recovered, or even how to close ranks and protect a system from further hacker attacks. Transferring personal credentials to your computer is becoming normal, and it's easy to mistake it for a legitimate, secure place. Security software suites that offer protection against computer viruses, hacking, spyware and phishing. A suite of security software is required to provide protection to all devices in use such as; Windows PC, Mac, Android smartphone or even iPad. The first security software suite is Kaspersky Anti-Virus which provides its customers with real-time protection against malicious programs such as; viruses, hackers, spam, worms and other forms of intrusion to their PCs (ZiffDavis, 2017). It is the best among other virus scanners in terms of detection speed. The second security software suite is McAfee Antivirus Plus, a cloud-based antivirus service that protects PCs, tablets, and cell phones from viruses, malware, and other security threats. It has features that will permanently delete sensitive files and prevent the inadvertent spread of spam and viruses to other devices (ZiffDavis, 2017)..