Wi-Fi hotspots in public places are convenient, but often they're not secure. If you connect to a public Wi-Fi network and send information through websites or mobile apps, it could be accessed by someone else.

Here's how you can protect your information when using public Wi-Fi:

• Log in or send personal information only to websites you know are fully encrypted. You can tell if a site is encrypted by looking at the URL. It should start with https, not just http. As you navigate through a site, watch the URL for each page also. Not all pages on a site are encrypted.
• Don't stay permanently signed into accounts. When you've finished using an account, log out.
• Do not use the same password on different websites. It could give someone who gains access to one of your accounts access to many of your accounts.
• Many web browsers alert users who try to visit fraudulent websites or download malicious programs. Pay attention to alerts many web browsers display when you attempt to visit fraudulent websites or download malicious programs, and keep your browser and security software up to date.
• Consider changing the settings on your mobile device so it doesn’t automatically connect to nearby Wi-Fi. That way, you have more control over when and how your device uses public Wi-Fi.
• Use a virtual private network (VPN) if you regularly access online accounts through Wi-Fi hotspots. VPNs encrypt traffic between your computer and the internet, even on unsecured networks. You can get a personal VPN account from a VPN service provider. In addition, some organizations create VPNs to provide secure, remote access for their employees. What's more, VPN options are available for mobile devices too. They can encrypt information you send through mobile apps.
• Learn how to identify and access Wi-Fi networks that use encryption: WEP and WPA are common, but they might not protect you against all hacking programs. WPA2 is the strongest.
• Install browser add-ons or plug-ins. They can help. For example, Force-TLS and TTPSEverywhere are free Firefox add-ons that force the browser to use encryption on popular websites that usually aren't encrypted. They don't protect you on all websites so watch for https in the URL address as mentioned above.
• Take steps to secure your home wireless network.

For more helpful information about this topic, take advantage of the free resources provided by the Federal Trade Commission at consumer.ftc.gov.

Source: Consumer.ftc.gov