Back at College? Keep Your Info. Safe on Public Wi-Fi

On college campuses, you’re probably not going to have a private Wi-Fi connection. Whether you live in a dormitory or use an on-campus coffee shop to study, your Wi-Fi is probably going to be used by hundreds — if not thousands — of other students. This, of course, makes your connection at higher risk for hacking. Learn to keep yourself safe with these simple tips for using public Wi-Fi.

What are the risks of public Wi-Fi?

Unlike with a private Internet connection, anyone who logs onto the public network can access your data with some simple pieces of software that help them figure out your passwords or other private information. You also have to be cautious about the public Wi-Fi you choose. Some hackers might set up their own Wi-Fi hotspots on-campus or elsewhere so when you sign on, they can easily take your information.

Read More: Security Threats Present in Android Health Apps

How can I stay safe on public Wi-Fi?

First, make sure you know that you’re connecting to the actual Internet that is set up for use in your dorm, coffee shop, or library. To be extra safe, make sure your phone isn’t set up to automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks; it should ask you before it connects.

Second, you want to make sure you’re using two-factor authentication whenever you can. Popular services like Google, Facebook, and Twitter offer two-factor identification, a system that asks you for both a password and a numerical code — usually sent to you via text — before you can log onto a website.

Another thing to make sure of is that you’ve disabled sharing. This might be simple if you want to share files with friends on a trusted network, but also gives hackers easy access to your system. To do this in Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Windows icon to enter your Settings
2. In Settings, click on Network and Internet and then Wi-Fi
3. Find Advanced sharing settings and click it
4. Turn off file and printer sharing and network discover
5. Save your changes

Finally, the best precaution you can take to protect your information is downloading PSafe Total Windows. PSafe’s anti-virus protection performs real-time virus scans that stop invading viruses before they’re embedded onto your computer. PSafe also runs scans that ensure your computer stays virus-free. Use public Wi-Fi with less worry by downloading PSafe Total for Windows.