Public Wi-Fi, an unsecured network, or a hotspot — whatever you call the free wireless Internet you get from local cafes and shopping centers, this connection can be convenient for any browser who’s low on data. But unsecured networks can be monitored, exposing your activity and any information you share over these connections to eavesdroppers.
With this in mind, here are three things you should stay away from while on a hotspot.
1. Pay Bills
You’re waiting by the coffee bar for the barista to finish whipping up your drink, when you realize you forgot to pay your water bill. With your bank app on your phone, you can easily transfer funds while you wait.
The stress of being late can pressure you to make an unsafe browsing decision. That’s because you have to login into your banking app before you transfer a single cent. If you do this using public Wi-Fi, anyone watching will have these credentials.
With your username and password, someone can access your bank account and all that it holds — from your checking account and linked credit cards to savings, lines of credit, personal loans, and retirement funds.
2. Borrow Money
Accidents can happen at any time and any place, so you won’t always be home when you want to borrow money. If you’re short on savings, you might be tempted to apply for loans with your phone as soon as you realize you need help.
However, you can’t apply for a loan by phone without sharing some private financial information. Contact details, banking info, and your social security number are things you have to share with lenders. Lenders use this data to determine if you’re a good fit for their loans, but it’s exactly the stuff you should shield from fraudsters.
On unsecured, public Wi-Fi, someone could be eavesdropping on your session, so there’s a chance that they see all your application details.
Does this mean you can never apply for or repay loans with your phone? No! Getting an over the phone loan is perfectly safe when you do it from the comfort of your own home, on a secured network.
3. Shop
Shopping while you’re out might seem counterintuitive, especially if you’re jumping on your mall’s free Wi-Fi. But some people might feel the urge if the shirt, shoe, or toy they wanted isn’t available at any store. You can hop online and snag the item you’re after before you forget.
But like borrowing money or paying a bill, shopping requires sharing personal information over Wi-Fi. An online sale requires your shipping address and credit card number, both of which are details you don’t want to fall into the wrong hands.
What Can You Do to Boost Your Security on a Hotspot?
While you never want to take out a loan or pay a bill using a hotspot, there are some things you can do safely over a shared connection. Researching online loans, checking the opening hours of a favorite store, or getting directions for another shop hold very little risk. However, you can boost your cybersecurity when completing these tasks by:
- Joining public Wi-Fi cautiously to ensure it’s not a scam.
- Never share your email to sign onto a network.
- Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) while browsing to encrypt your online activity.
These tiny adjustments to your browsing habits can save you from becoming a victim of fraud.
