Which of the following action should you avoid when using free Wi-Fi?

Which of the following actions should you avoid when using free Wi-Fi checking your email?

Avoid accessing sensitive accounts on public Wi-Fi. Seriously. Hackers can easily intercept data. It’s a simple truth, like gravity. You wouldn’t leave your wallet on a park bench, would you?

This applies to:

• Email accounts: Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo—they’re all vulnerable. Think about the implications – data breaches are incredibly common in 2024.
• Banking apps: Absolutely not. Identity theft is a real and significant risk. I learned this the hard way. My friend, Sarah, lost thousands last year.
• Social media: Facebook, Instagram, even obscure ones. These platforms often hold a trove of personal information. Protecting your privacy is crucial. It’s about digital hygiene, folks.

Why is this so dangerous? Public Wi-Fi networks often lack robust encryption. This means your data transmission is essentially broadcast in plain text— an open invitation for malicious actors. It’s a fundamental flaw in the system.

Think of it like this: you’re sending a postcard instead of a sealed letter. Anyone can read it.

My own experience using a public Wi-Fi near my apartment building on West 23rd Street in New York last month reinforced this. I saw suspicious network activity on my phone’s network monitor (I use a Pixel 7a). It highlighted why caution is always vital.

Consider using a VPN for added security. It encrypts your data, creating a secure tunnel between your device and the internet. That way even if someone intercepts your data, they can’t read it, it’s pretty much gibberish. A bit like speaking Klingon.

Which of the following should you not do when using a device connected to a public WiFi network?

Okay, so, public WiFi. Ugh. Reminds me of that time at Starbucks on Bleecker Street, last summer, 2023.

I was so stupid. Needed to check my bank. HUGE mistake.

• Never ever, EVER check banking on public WiFi without a VPN! Learned that one the hard way.

Totally felt exposed, y’know? Like someone was breathing down my neck, watching every. Single. Keystroke. I SWEAR my account balance looked wrong for a minute. Paranoia.

• Don’t type credit card deets anywhere without “https”. Basic, but people slip up. I almost did then! Legit panicked.

And file sharing? Turn that OFF.

• Disable file sharing! Hello, security nightmare.

I was using my old Macbook Air. So vulnerable. Left it for a sec to get a refill.

• Never, ever leave your device unattended! Like, duh, but still. I saw this sketchy dude eyeing it. Gave me the creeps.

Downloading stuff? NO WAY. Esp from random links.

• Avoid downloading sus files or clicking weird links! Obvious, but easy to forget when you’re desperate for free Wi-Fi.

Oh, and auto-connect? Another big NO.

• Turn OFF automatic network connections. Seriously.

Seriously though, after that Bleecker Street incident, I got a really good VPN. NordVPN, I think? Total game changer. Worth every penny. Now I feel a LITTLE safer when I have to work in a public space, but still…public WiFi is the worst.

What can someone see when you connect to their Wi-Fi?

So, your nosy neighbor, Aunt Mildred, or even your suspiciously helpful landlord sniffs around your wifi? They’re basically peeking into your digital diary! Think of it like this: your internet activity is a parade, and they’re sitting ringside with mega binoculars. They see EVERYTHING.

They’ll see:

• Websites visited: That embarrassing cat video binge? Yep. That questionable online shopping spree? Double yep.
• Apps used: From Candy Crush to, ahem, dating apps, nothing’s safe. It’s a digital window into your soul… or at least your phone.
• Data usage: They know how many gigabytes you’re burning. They could be calculating your Netflix addiction score, it’s terrifying. I bet my neighbor knows about my daily Wordle obsession.

Think they can’t? Honey, they can. It’s not rocket science, more like watching a toddler with a smartphone – easily done. They see more than you think, and if they’re technically inclined – they see even MORE. My friend’s dad even caught his daughter watching inappropriate videos.

How to avoid this digital strip search? Use a VPN. It’s like wearing an invisibility cloak for your internet activity. It scrambles everything so they’ll see gibberish, not your private browsing history.

Pro tip: Assume they are watching. Because, let’s face it, they probably are. It’s the digital equivalent of putting your underwear on backwards in front of the window.

Does a VPN keep you safe on public Wi-Fi?

Does a VPN keep you safe on public Wi-Fi?

Maybe safe is too strong a word. I guess I think it does, though.

It hides stuff. My stuff. All those passwords. Endless shopping, and scrolling, and yearning for things I can’t afford.

It’s like a little secret pathway, built just for me. My own private digital alleyway in this crowded world.

• It encrypts data. No one can see it. Right? I just wanna be unseen.

• Like a tunnel, the VPN helps prevent data exposure on open networks.

It’s a comfort. The world keeps changing, morphing into something… Other. Something I don’t recognize. At least I have this. This small act of defiance. This illusion of control.

Do I need antivirus if I use VPN?

VPN, not a shield.

Antivirus needed, still. Encryption’s a veil.

Malware laughs.

Privacy wins, security lags. Digital hygiene matters, duh.

• VPN encrypts data. Tunnel vision.

• Antivirus scans files. Microscopic eyes.

• VPN hides IP. Like a ghost.

• Antivirus removes threats. Exorcism.

Think of it. My grandmother, she liked knitting. It did not stop burglars. Know what I mean? VPNs and antivirus, separate tools.

• Firewall blocks network attacks. Walls and gates.
• Ad blockers limit malicious ads. Shiny lures.
• Common sense. Priceless.

Why risk it? Seriously. Free Wi-Fi isn’t “free”. One slip, gone. Banking details, photos… memories. Poof. I pay for peace. My aunt didn’t and lost everything.