Public Wi-Fi

When we are on vacation, at the library, at the airport or at the mall, it is common to find a public Wi-Fi and want to connect to it to save mobile data. These networks are practical, but they are not always the best option for accessing sensitive information.

Risks to consider

On a public Wi-Fi network, other people may try to spy on what we do, or even create fake networks with names very similar to the establishment's to deceive us and capture our data. Therefore, before connecting to it, look carefully at the name of the network and, if you have any doubts, ask the establishment staff which one is correct.

How to browse safely

A good indication of whether the connection is reliable or not are the browser warnings. When we enter a page, if the browser tells us that the connection is not secure or that there is a problem with the certificate, it is important not to ignore the warning. We must close the page and distrust the Wi-Fi or the website.

Therefore, if we have mobile data, it is safer to use it to access online banking, health data or procedures with the Administration. We can reserve public Wi-Fi for lower-risk activities, such as watching the news, checking the cultural agenda or searching for information that does not involve personal data.

Recommendations

Check the security network before connecting.
Pay attention to the browser's security warnings.
Prioritize mobile data for pages with sensitive information.