For
sure, the attraction of it all is what draws you. Through it you can
do banking transactions, shopping sprees, and private messaging while
going out and about. But did you know that with the enjoyment that it
brings also comes a serious risk?
The
Shocking News...
Reports
have been coming out identifying public Wi-Fi hotspots as rich
playing grounds of identity thieves. Evidences of the said crime have
so far been found in cafes, hotels, and even U.S. airports.
The
Sneaky Tactic...
What
basically happens is hackers set up a connection on their laptops on
these public Wi-Fi hotspots and virtually “listen” to people's
laptops.
So
you may ask – How does this happen? You have to understand that
whenever you connect to a public Wi-Fi in a hotel or cafe for
instance, your computer is basically “talking out loud” to the
router to gain Internet connection.
Thus,
any other computer that is also using the same Wi-Fi connection can
virtually “listen” to your PC. Such computers can then find out
about your own surfing activity which means others getting access to
details about what websites you visit, your email addresses, and your
passwords.
The
Urgent Action Plan...
If
you are someone who just can't resist using a public Wi-Fi, you may
want to keep the following precautionary pointers in mind:
- Avoid doing online activities that may expose your personal information. These may include filing tax returns, doing online banking, or checking email accounts.
- If you travel often, you may wan to consider setting up your personal VPN or Virtual Private Network.
- Do not choose other wireless networks that suddenly show up while you are accessing a public Wi-Fi connection. These connections can be from hackers.
Now
that you know the dangers that a public Wi-Fi poses, an identity
fraud protection service
could really come handy. With an efficient identity fraud detection mechanism, you
can be at ease knowing that your personal data are secured.
Moreover,
you may also want to regularly request for a free credit score to monitor
your credit transactions and immediately spot irregularities.
So,
what's with the second thoughts? Invest in identity
protection today!
