How to protect your phone when connecting to Wi-Fi in public?

Your internet connection does not pose any problems because it's safe, but when it comes to Wi-Fi in public places, it's different.

In this report - published by the magazine "Wired" - the writer David Nild said that the connection to the Wi-Fi in public places became more available than ever before, but this is not completely safe because you do not know who made it or contact.

It is best not to use them at all, instead you can use your smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot. If you have to use the public Wi-Fi network, you can reduce the potential damage by following some simple steps.

Know who you trust?
The writer stressed the need to be careful to connect to Wi-Fi networks in places known to be safer network compared to other places, especially as the company and people working to get money for this type of services.

A public Wi-Fi network is not completely secure, but known networks are safer than the public Wi-Fi networks that appear on your phone when you are in a shopping mall or those that are run by a third party that you have not heard of before.

These networks may be reliable, but if they are available to all passers-by for free, what is the benefit of the people who manage them? And how to make money from them? In fact, there is no rule or quick steps that can be applied to discover safe Wi-Fi networks, but thinking logically does not hurt.

Try to connect to as few public Wi-Fi networks as you can, and if you go to a new city, you can use a Wi-Fi network for a store or café that you have previously contacted.

Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
The author noted that Google Chrome allows you to know whether the site you are visiting uses secure, encrypted, or unencrypted Secure Text Transfer (SMTP) by showing an "unsafe" token.

A warning sign appears when you connect to public Wi-Fi networks. When you browse the Internet using Secure Encrypted Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the same network callers will not be able to spy on your data that travels between your device and the server of the website you are connecting to. But when you use an unencrypted protocol it will be easy for them to follow all your online activities.

Do not share many information
It is recommended that you be cautious when connecting to a public Wi-Fi network, especially if you are asked to provide a range of personal information, such as your email address or phone number. If you need to connect to a public Wi-Fi network, use those available in known places, and consider using an alternate email address rather than the original one.

In general, stores and restaurants ask for information about you so that they can identify you through many of the Wi-Fi hotspots that you use in marketing. So it is up to you to decide if this barter is worth free internet.

Try to minimize Wi-Fi connectivity as much as possible, and remember that using your phone - which offers free Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi access - is better than providing your private information to a group of companies.

Limit the use of the file-sharing service
When you're connected to the Internet in a public place, it's best not to use features that allow sharing files on your devices. For a computer, that means switching to the network and sharing center, changing the advanced sharing settings, turning off file sharing, and sharing the printer.

For Macs from Apple, go to System Preferences, click the Share button, clear everything, go to the Finder, click on Air Drop, and select "Allow me to be discovered before": None. For iOS, look for the Airdrop service in the Control Center and turn it off. So nobody near you can access your files, or send a file you do not want.

Check before entering
The writer noted that it is very important to read the attached terms and conditions before connecting to the Wi-Fi in a public place. You may not understand every word listed, but you should be able to identify areas of danger on the network, especially with regard to the type of data that can be collected from your session, while others can use it.

Virtual private network
The writer stressed that installing a virtual private network is a more effective trick to staying safe when connected to a public Wi-Fi network. It encrypts data that is transferred to and from your laptop or phone, and connects your device to a secure server, making it difficult for others connected to the same network or anyone using the same network to know what you are doing or see your details.

Virtual networks are not the same, as some are risky. This service is worth paying for, it is likely that free solutions are funded by some marketing companies or the collection of suspicious data that you would prefer to keep away from. Independent review sites - like The Wirecutter and One One Website - can help you.

The VPN connection is direct, and once you have downloaded the service provider you choose, it will gradually guide you through this process, whether you are using a laptop or desktop. If you are traveling a lot and are connected to many different networks, you should choose a good virtual network.

Additional tips
Over the next few years, when WPA 3 encryption and protection protocol is available on the Internet, the Wi-Fi network in public places will offer more built-in protection.

But until then, many hardware protections rely on older software, so be sure to run the latest patches and software updates on your laptop or phone before you run the risk. Do not download or install any new Wi-Fi app in public places unless you have to.

Again, the best way to avoid Wi-Fi security problems in public places is to never use them. Instead, consider downloading videos and music before you leave home, or use the hot spot feature on your smartphone.