How to: Staying Safe When Using Public Wi-Fi

Having the ability to use your laptop or tablet in coffee shops, airports, and hotels can seem convenient—but it can also pose potential security risks with regards to your personal information. Whenever you connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot that isn’t on your own encrypted network, you’re also taking a chance the information you send through websites or mobile apps may be exposed to people with motives that are less-than-pure.

Here are some simple steps you can take to help keep your data secure whenever you’re on public Wi-Fi:

• Never access your personal or financial information. You must always assume the public Wi-Fi network you’re using isn’t secure.
• Don’t use the same password on different websites. If someone is able to gain access to one of your accounts access, you don’t want them to automatically have access to even more of them.
• Log out of your accounts when you’re done using them. It might seem easier and more convenient to stay logged into accounts you use frequently—don’t. When you’ve finished using an account, log out immediately.
• Consider using a VPN app. Many virtual private networks, known as VPNs, offer encryption to help keep your information safe. Learn more about VPN apps and what to know before you download one.

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