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Free Connection or Danger for Free?

LaptopMD wants to wish every military veteran a Happy Veteran’s Day this year. This is the day that everyone celebrates your service to the country.

Being Safety Conscious on Public WiFi

However, protecting the public isn’t always an easy or obvious job. It’s a downright difficult job sometimes!

In fact, there are people who can strip away your personal information in a matter of seconds when you improperly access WiFi. To help veterans and everyone in the nation with their personal data protection, take a look at these tips to keep you safe at all times.

Know the Network

It seems like every business and household has a WiFi connection. You’ve seen those silly names, such as “Hippo’s WiFi,” as you connect to your network. For most people, this is a perk because mobile devices usually have limits to their cellular data usage. However, connecting to any WiFi network is just asking for trouble.

That network could be used for hacking purposes, for instance. Only trust those networks that you know are legitimate. Coffeehouses, retail stores and other storefronts advertise their WiFi network name near their front door. If the network is still unclear, you can always ask an employee for the correct network name. Connecting to a network that’s similar to a legitimate connection could mean identity theft for you. In fact, it may be awhile before you even notice the data breach.

HTTPS is Your Pal

Every website address begins with “http” so you’re familiar with this designation. If you pay careful attention while you’re performing secure transactions online, that “http” will automatically change to “https.” Believe it or not, that “s” makes a huge difference to your data’s protection. This is a crucial designation that you want to have on all of the websites you visit while connecting through a public WiFi.

When you use “https,” it’s encrypted and extremely difficult to hack. As a result, your personal information remains hidden from would-be thieves. However, not every website automatically changes to a secure connection. You can combat this problem by using a specialized extension. These utilities trigger the “https” section of each website, so that you can remain safe online. You’ll always know that you’re on a secured connection by simply looking at the website address on your browser.

Be a VPN Fan

Another way to encrypt your online session through public WiFi is using a VPN or virtual private network. What in the world is a VPN? Well, it’s actually very simple. When you log on to your device, it corresponds with a VPN server while using the WiFi.

This entire communication process is encrypted, so that hackers cannot access your information. Ideally, you can use a VPN set up through your employer. If that’s not possible, subscribe to a provider you find in the online security industry. Every time you use any WiFi network, your device will be the most difficult one to access. As a result, would-be thieves will look for easier targets for their needs.

Be aware!

Now that you know how to safely use public WiFi and protect your data, you’ll be prepared for almost any hacking trick. Also be aware opening unknown emails which can have malicious software and probably stole the data. Protect yourself using these simple tips.