The Price of Free Internet
We all love free Wi-Fi at coffee shops, airports, and hotels. However, these public networks are hunting grounds for cybercriminals. Public Wi-Fi is often unencrypted, meaning hackers can intercept the data travelling between your device and the router.
Risks of Public Wi-Fi
- Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: Hackers sit in the middle of the connection and read your emails, credit card numbers, and messages.
- Malware Distribution: Hackers can slip viruses onto your device through the network.
- Fake Hotspots: Hackers create fake Wi-Fi names (e.g., "Free_Airport_Wifi") to trick you into connecting.
How to Stay Safe
The best way to protect yourself on public Wi-Fi is by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN encrypts your data so that even if a hacker intercepts it, they only see scrambled code. If you don't have a VPN, avoid logging into bank accounts while using public internet.