precaution while using wifi

As I said, it can be safe to use open Wi Fi, but it s also very easy for it to be unsafe.The solution that you used while you were at that same coffee shop (and asked me about in this question) is a very common and solid one: use your phone instead. While it is technically possible, a mobile/cellular network connection is significantly less likely to be hacked. In fact I use this solution heavily when I travel.

Many phones or other mobile devices, such as iPhones, iPads, Droids, Blackberrys and others, are quite capable email and web surfing devices, and typically do so via the mobile network. (Some can also use Wi Fi, so be certain that you re using the mobile broadband connection for this option to avoid the very security issues that we re discussing.)

Tethering means you connect your phone to your computer and usually by a USB cable, but in some cases, via a Bluetooth connection and and the phone acts as a modem, providing a mobile broadband internet connection. Avoiding online tasks that require you to enter your sensitive, personal information such as credit card numbers or passwords is best practice when on a Wi Fi network.

Occasionally referred to as andair cardsand, these are USB devices that attach to your computer and act as a modem, providing a mobile broadband internet connection, much like tethering your phone. If you must enter this type of data when on a public network, ensure the website asking for the information uses andhttpsand before their URL in your browser s address bar. The key is the andsand in andhttpsand lets you know the connection is secure even if someone hacks a https:// session, the information they access will be encrypted. If the andsand is not present, do not enter your private information.

In lieu of tethering, many phones now have the ability to act as a Wi Fi hotspot themselves. There are also dedicated devices, such as the MiFi, that when turned on, are simple dedicated hotspots. Either way, the device connects to the mobile broadband network and provides a Wi Fi hotspot accessible to one or more devices within range. When used in this manner, these devices are acting as routers and must be configured securely, including applying a WPA/WPA2 password so as not to be simply another open Wi Fi hotspot susceptible to hacking.

Laptops are convenient because they re portable. And because they re portable, laptops are also easily stolen. Unfortunately it only takes a few seconds for an unattended and un watched laptop to disappear. That s one reason I never leave mine alone: even if I need to make a quick trip to the restroom, the laptop comes with me. There s just no way of knowing that absolutely everyone around is completely trustworthy.

As you can see, it s unfortunately easy to get this stuff wrong, since doing it securely takes a little planning and forethought. But it s important. If you re not doing things securely that guy in the corner with his laptop open could be watching all your internet traffic on the Wi Fi connection, including your account username and password as they fly by.

When connecting to the internet in an internet cafe, hotspot or other public connection you could be opening yourself up to serious security issues. Turn off sharing settings on Mac OS X. Click the Apple menu in the upper left corner of the screen followed by andSystem Preferencesand from the context menu. Select sharing from the System Preferences window and uncheck all of the sharing options that are currently enabled to disable them.

Cellular is a popular internet connection alternative. As with any connection it s important to understand the security ramifications and tradeoffs. Turn off sharing settings on Windows. Navigate to Start >> Control Panel >> Network and Internet >> Network and Sharing Center. Select andHomegroup and Sharing Optionsand followed by andChange Advanced Sharing Settingsand. From within the Change Advanced Sharing Settings dialog you can disable printer and file sharing as well as Public folder sharing and network discovery.

When scanning for wireless connections you may find several that are unknown yet and appear open and available. Using them is risky. Very risky. If your device has an internal Wi Fi adapter, you can access Network Connections on Windows by clicking Start, typing andncpa.cpland and pressing Enter on your keyboard. Note: The process of disabling your Wi Fi card will vary from device to device. Consult your manufacturer documentation to learn more.