Protect Yourself While Surfing the Wi-Fi Waves

Posted: May 3rd, 2011

We connect to the internet through wi-fi connections at a higher rate than ever, yet despite many of us knowing the security risks of using these networks, we still aren’t taking all the precautions necessary to protect ourselves.

When it comes to using your own wi-fi network at home, you want to make sure of two things: that your data can not be intercepted by others, and that your network can not be accessed by others. The first step to take on both counts is to make sure your network is WPA2 compliant. WPA2 is the latest wi-fi security technology, and completely restricts access to your network, while also encrypting all data transmitted across it. It does require the use of compatible devices though, so only wi-fi certified products that are capable of being added to your setup should be used.

When accessing wi-fi hotspots, you’ll want to restrict your web use to the simplest of tasks, such as basic web viewing. Any function that requires you to access an account should be heavily considered before proceeding. If it’s a simple forum account, or even a free e-mail service, you may not need to be overly protective, but certainly anything related to banking or accessing other sensitive information should be avoided.

By taking these steps you’ll greatly increase your security and minimize your risks while using wi-fi networks both at home and abroad.

Dave

Softarama team

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