{"id":24489,"date":"2025-10-22T13:30:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T17:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mainehost.com\/why-you-really-need-to-stop-using-public-wi-fi\/---0b0ae5c4-d6a7-4e35-bf78-8271585c041e"},"modified":"2025-10-22T13:30:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T17:30:44","slug":"why-you-really-need-to-stop-using-public-wifi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mainehost.com\/news\/why-you-really-need-to-stop-using-public-wifi\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Really Need to Stop Using Public WiFi"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Using Public Wifi?<\/div>\n
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Stop Using Public Wifi!<\/h2>\n

In today\u2019s busy world, convenience seems to outweigh consequence, especially with how people login to public wifi with their mobile devices.<\/h3>\n

Using free public WiFi networks, for example, comes with any number of serious security risks, yet surveys show that the overwhelming majority of Americans do it anyway. In a study by privatewifi.com, a whopping three-quarters of people admitted to connecting to their personal email while on public WiFi.<\/p>\n

It isn\u2019t hard to see that a few moments of online convenience are far outweighed by your money or financial information being stolen,<\/strong> or by suffering the embarrassment of your personal information being publicly released.\u00a0According to a recent opinion poll, more people are leery of public Wi-Fi networks than of public toilet seats (a promising sign). But an interesting experiment, conducted at the 2016 Republican and Democratic National Conventions, showed attendees\u2019 true colors. At each convention, private entities provided visitors with free public Wi-Fi networks (for social science purposes).\u00a0Around 70% of people connected to the nonsecure Wi-Fi networks at both conferences.<\/p>\n

Security consultants often find that sex can be an attention-grabbing metaphor to get a client\u2019s attention.<\/strong> When we lecture business people about cybersecurity, we compare the dangers of using public WiFi to the risks of having unprotected sex. In both cases, not taking the necessary precautions can lead to lasting harm. For mobile devices, the harm is digital: the theft of your personal data, such as passwords, financial information, or private pictures or videos. You\u2019re rolling the dice every time you log on to a free network in a coffee shop, hotel lobby, or airport lounge.<\/p>\n

Think the problem is being exaggerated, or that cyber theft only happens to large corporations?<\/strong>\u00a0Consider that over half of the adults in the U.S. have their personal information exposed to hackers each year.\u00a0Furthermore, Verizon\u2019s annual Data Breach Investigation Report\u00a0has found that 89% of all cyber attacks involve financial or espionage motives.<\/p>\n

There are dozens of online tutorials showing hackers how to compromise people using public WiFi,<\/strong> some of them with millions of views. The most common method of attack is known as \u201cMan in the Middle.\u201d\u00a0In this simple technique, traffic is intercepted between a user\u2019s device and the destination by making the victim\u2019s device think the hacker\u2019s machine is the access point to the internet.\u00a0A similar, albeit more sinister, method is called the \u201cEvil Twin.\u201d Here\u2019s how it works: You log on to the free Wi-Fi in your hotel room, thinking you\u2019re joining the hotel\u2019s network. But somewhere nearby, a hacker is boosting a stronger Wi-Fi signal off of their laptop, tricking you into using it by labeling it with the hotel\u2019s name. Trying to save a few bucks, and recognizing the name of the hotel, you innocently connect to the hacker\u2019s network.\u00a0As you surf the web or do your online banking, all your activity is being monitored by this stranger.<\/p>\n

Still not convinced why you should stop using public wifi?<\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s a story that should worry business travelers in particular.<\/strong> In 2014 experts from Kaspersky Lab uncovered a very sophisticated hacking campaign called \u201cDark Hotel.\u201d Operating for more than seven years and believed to be a sophisticated economic espionage campaign by an unknown country, Dark Hotel targeted CEOs, government agencies, U.S. executives, NGOs, and other high-value targets while they were in Asia. When executives connected to their luxury hotel\u2019s using Public WiFi network and downloaded what they believed were regular software updates, their devices were infected with malware. This malware could sit inactive and undetected for several months before being remotely accessed to obtain sensitive information on the device.<\/p>\n

What is the best way to protect yourself against these kinds of Wi-Fi threats?<\/h3>\n

Although antivirus protection and firewalls are essential methods of cyber defense, they are useless against hackers looking for unsecured using WiFi networks. Consider the following seven security tips to keep prying eyes out of your devices:<\/strong><\/p>\n