Caution urged when using free Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi ‘hotspots’ are now everywhere, including cafes, shopping centres, hotels and many other public locations. Laboratories Credit Union (LCU) has issued a warning for users: just because it is free and is provided by a respected organisation, it does not mean that it is safe. When you use public Wi-Fi, it makes it easy for scammers to hack your mobile devices or infect them with viruses.

In some cases criminals can set up ‘hotspots’ for the purpose of stealing the user’s information. Private information such as passwords can be accessed by tracking the activity undertaken by the user on unsecured websites.

How to use public Wi-Fi safely

At LCU, we recommend that our members avoid using public Wi-Fi as much as possible but we understand that sometimes you have no choice but to use it. If you must use public Wi-Fi, here are some tips to keep you safe.

• Don’t connect to a public Wi-Fi without checking that the connection is provided by who they claim to be. Some scammers may try to trick you to join their free Wi-Fi by setting up a fake name like ‘Gloria Jean’s Wi-Fi’ to entice you to join a well-respected and familiar organisation’s network.
• Check with the provider of the Wi-Fi about their Wi-Fi security. Please note that most public Wi-Fi Hotspots have little, outdated or no security on their networks.
• When connecting to a Wi-Fi network, it will ask you to identify the network type with the options home, work or public. Always select public as it will keep the connection more secure.
• High-risk activity like online banking, online shopping, emails and social media are usually secured with the ‘https’ in their URL. The (s) at the end makes it more secure than an http URL. Although they can be more secure, we recommend that you avoid these activities - especially internet banking and online shopping when using public Wi-Fi hotspots.
• Use a virtual private network (VPN) to keep your connection secure. A VPN allows you to securely connect to a public network. If you have VPN installed on your mobile, it makes it harder for scammers to monitor your activity and makes the connection to the network more secure. To install a VPN you can ask your local IT store or you can Google how to set it up on your mobile device.
• Remember to always turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your mobile device when you are not using it so it does not search for a close by public Wi-Fi ‘hotspot’ or Bluetooth to connect to without you knowing.
• Remember to treat your mobile device the same as your computer and get the same sort of antivirus protection you would have for your computer. You may have taken the steps to ensure your computer is secure, but have you applied the same security to your mobile devices? Review these settings especially if you access your personal and financial details through these devices.

Get help if your mobile device gets infected by a virus or malware

If you believe that your mobile device is infected by a virus or malware, please contact your local computer or smartphone repairer and let your financial institution know as well, just to be safe.