Tips for Using Public WIFI by ITRM

A third of Brits believe they’ve been hacked after logging into public Wi-Fi: ITRM offer their tips…

Logging on to public Wi-Fi has always been a contentious subject, particularly when it comes to working from the likes of coffee shops and cafes. A new study by the team at ITRM can now reveal a third of people in Britain believe they’ve been hacked after logging onto one of the open networks.

With us in the midst of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, that figure actually rises above 40% for those aged between 16 and 44 – the age range most commonly using public Wi-Fi connections. Meanwhile, over 40% of people have noticed that they have received a rise in spam emails, calls and texts after logging on to public Wi-Fi, again that figure jumping to around a half of those between 16 and 44.

It comes at a time when only half of Brits are comfortable with logging on to public Wi-Fi, while less than 40% believe such networks to be safe. What’s more, one in five aren’t aware of the risks, which could put them in danger.

Liz Luesley, Marketing & Communications Manager at ITRM said: “Public Wi-Fi may feel like a convenience, but it’s one of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to intercept your data. Every time you connect to an unsecured network, you risk exposing passwords, financial details, and personal information to anyone with basic hacking tools.”

At ITRM we’re always keen to highlight the importance of safety when using public Wi-Fi, and Liz has offered her advice as part of Cyber Security Awareness Month:

“Sometimes, utilising public Wi-Fi is a must and there are several ways in which you can stay safe:

•       Use a VPN: This will encrypt your traffic and prevent others from snooping on your data.
•       Stick to HTTPS sites: Lookout for that padlock in your browser’s address bar.
•       Turn off auto-connect: This will stop you connecting to any rogue networks.
•       Use two-factor authentication: Add additional layers of protection to make it difficult to access your information.
•       Turn on your firewall: This can block incoming attacks!
•       Avoid accessing sensitive information: Don’t log in to banking, work emails, email accounts and other confidential or sensitive data.
•       Keep software up-to-date: Updates can fix any vulnerabilities an operating system may have.”

For those who feel they aren’t up to scratch when it comes to cybersecurity skills, find out more about how you can get cybersecurity training by reading our in-depth blog.