Public Wifi Safety

Stay secure while connecting on the go.

“What’s the WiFi password?”

Public WiFi is almost always readily available now, from cafés and restaurants to malls and trains. Even walking down the street your phone may notify you of available WiFi.

While these networks may require a password to access, they are still not secure.

Know the Risks

The key things to consider when using public WiFi are protecting your outgoing traffic and defending your computer against unwanted incoming traffic.

In a crowded café, anyone may be “listening in” to your traffic without your knowledge, as well as trying to access the information on your laptop.

%

of Wi-Fi hotspots in the world do not use any encryption at all.

Tips for Using Public Wifi Safely

Use a VPN to protect your outgoing traffic

VPNs create a secure and private connection between you and the sites you visit
There are both free and paid VPN options. Here’s a short list of the top-rated VPNs.
NU provides a VPN for faculty and staff to securely connect to internal computing resources.

Access the Northeastern VPN

Knowledge Check!

True or False: If you’re not connected to a VPN, cybercriminals can use special software kits to eavesdrop on your public wifi network internet activity.

True

False

You’re Correct!

Special software kits allow cybercriminals to access all of your public network activity, potentially enabling them to capture login credentials and even hijack your accounts.

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Sorry, that’s incorrect!

Special software kits allow cybercriminals to access all of your public network activity, potentially enabling them to capture login credentials and even hijack your accounts.

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