SCAMS BULLETIN Host is Jay White

November 3, 2019

PUBLIC WI-FI SCAMS.

It’s common for public gathering spots like coffee shops, grocery stores and airports to offer visitors an internet connection via free Wi-Fi networks.

It’s a great modern convenience, but also a risky one. Many public networks lack strong security protections, which makes it easy for tech-savvy scammers to break into them and take advantage of unwary users.  Many users are doing more than just looking up restaurants or checking the weather.

They are using it to check personal email or social networking sites such as Facebook, to do banking online, and purchase products or services with a credit card.

That kind of activity increases the risk of identity theft by cybercrooks who exploit public networks’ security gaps to invade your phone, tablet or laptop.

That doesn’t mean that you should never use public Wi-Fi, but it pays to be careful and follow some basic precautions.

Warning Signs:

A public Wi-Fi network lets you log on without entering a password. That means it probably isn’t secure.

The network has a generic-sounding name like “Free Public Wi-Fi.”

You’re asked to pay to use the connection.

Do’s:

Do check your device’s settings to make sure that it isn’t set to automatically connect to any available Wi-Fi network.

Do ask the staff at an establishment that offers free Wi-Fi for the exact name of its network, and make sure that’s the one you’re using.

Do be careful about what you do on public Wi-Fi networks. It’s generally OK to browse the web and check news, weather or traffic.

Do consider tethering your laptop to your phone and using your mobile provider’s data network instead of using public Wi-Fi. You may incur charges, but you’ll be more secure.

Do consider signing up for a virtual private network, or VPN, if you travel extensively or use public Wi-Fi often. It will encrypt your data, even on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.

Don’ts:

Don’t use a public Wi-Fi network to do online banking, make purchases, check email or use social media.

Don’t trust that your mobile apps will be secure on a public network. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cautions that many apps don’t encrypt information properly. It’s better to use them on your mobile provider’s data network.

Don’t use the same password for all of your accounts and websites. That makes it easy for a crook who steals one password to gain access to other accounts.

Don’t stay permanently signed in to your online accounts. The FTC recommends that you log out once you’re finished doing what you need to do.

Attribution AARP