Sure I could use my phone’s data, but who doesn’t love free Wi-Fi? I don’t think I know of anyone who doesn’t. So if you are like me, when you come across free Wi-Fi you take the opportunity to get on-line. But before you start checking emails, paying bills and using passwords check these 5 tips on safe free Wi-Fi usage to ensure you and your computer are not compromised.

There are many places that now offer free Wi-Fi. One of my favourite places is at an airport where I can charge my devices and while away my time online waiting for a flight. Other favourite places include coffee shops, co-working spaces and accommodation. In fact, before I ever book accommodation nowadays I check that free Wi-Fi is included for the duration of my stay in the property. It is just one of things that makes me choose to stay at a property.

Unfortunately, all these places offering free Wi-Fi can be very busy, particularly the airport and coffee shops. With so many people around and near you, you need to consider your on-line safety. Unfortunately you can find unscrupulous phishers and hackers hanging around these places just waiting for someone, like you, to go online so they can steal your identity or empty your bank account. So to help keep you secure on-line, do these 5 things first.

 

5 Tips to Keep You Safe On-line

 

FYI: A phisher is a person who uses deception, especially through online channels to trick you into revealing personal info to help them gain access to your devices. A hacker is someone who exploits vulnerabilities in systems or networks to gain unauthorised access to your devices. And we don’t want either, particularly as we travel the world on a working holiday visa, digital nomad visa  or any other visa that let us live and work abroad. We just don’t want the hassle and upset of what these people can do to us if they break into our devices. Therefore, we need to keep safe while on-line when travelling abroad and hopefully my 5 tips to keep you safe on-line will help.

 

1. Look Over Your Shoulder

 

My first tip to stay safe while using free Wi-Fi is to look over your shoulder. Pretty basic tip, and one that sometimes we forget to do. Before you go on line in public always be aware of your surroundings. If there are a number of people around you remember that someone could be looking over your shoulder. So check over that shoulder to ensure no-one is taking notes on your important information like your passwords for your online bank accounts. And don’t just check over your shoulder once, continue to check regularly. If you have used a password, which I recommend you don’t, I would change them as soon as you can. Another thing, sit with your back to a wall so no-one can sit behind you and look over your shoulder. Check though, there aren’t any mirrors or photos with glass covering on the wall behind you that may reflect what you are working on online.

 

2. Use Recognised Networks

 

Protect yourself by signing onto a recognised network. I always baulk when I can easily join a free Wi-Fi network. I prefer those that require you to set up a free account with the place you are, like in shopping centres, cafes and accommodation. This makes me feel a little easier about using the free Wi-Fi network. Even though it is annoying setting up the account and providing an email address, if I want to use the free Wi-Fi, I will do it.  And I would only use free ones, never use any that request payment. They are only after your credit cards details.

 

3. Disconnect After Using

 

My next tip for staying safe when using free Wi-Fi is to disconnect after using it. That’s right as soon as you have finished using the network, ensure you disconnect and switch off the wireless connection. This will help ensure your system is less vulnerable if someone else tries to connect to you while you have the wireless connection on. So before you get up and walk away, disconnect the free Wi-Fi. Don’t think because you have closed your device and moved that the connection has automatically disconnected. You need to disconnect from it.

 

4. Use Strong Passwords

 

Having a strong password will definitely help to protect you from would be hackers and phisers. Weak passwords are easy to crack, particularly if a phisher or hacker has identified you as their next target. Strong passwords typically have a mix of capital letters, small letters, numbers and symbols. So don’t use a weak password like Travel use a strong password like *Trav8l#m76. And no, this isn’t a password I use.

 

5. Use a VPN

 

My final, and probably best tip, is to use a VPN. What is a VPN I hear you ask? VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. This is basically a service that creates and encrypted tunnel to transmit data over the Internet. And how does a VPN work? Their main aim is keep the user’s online data private by encrypting and scramble all data sent over a Wi-Fi connection and thus hiding their IP address to make any action virtually untraceable. Sounds impressive! And thankfully, it works. So, to be extra safe when using free Wi-Fi, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). 

 

Are You Ready to Stay Safe Online as You Travel?

 

So these are my 5 tips on safe free wi-fi usage. They help me when I travel because as a blogger, I use my phone and computer a lot when I travel. And I need to know that I am safe and secure from potential hackers and phisers. As the last thing I want is to loose my identity or my money by not being safe online. If you have any other tips I can add to this list please feel free to comment below.