Safety Checklist for Public Wi-Fi

Firefox For Dummies

Your laptop, tablet, or phone can probably connect wirelessly to the internet via Wi-Fi, which is available in many public places, like airports and coffee shops. Can you trust the Wi-Fi network? How do you know that the Wi-Fi network isn’t listening to what you type, including your passwords? You don’t, but there are ways to reduce the risk.

Connect to a reputable Wi-Fi hotspot, not some sleaze ball trying to trick you. Ask your barista or look for a sign with the name of the real Wi-Fi network. Never connect to “Free Wi-Fi Hotspot” or other generically named networks.
If your computer asks whether the Wi-Fi network is Public, Work, or Home, choose Public so that other Wi-Fi users can’t see the files on your hard disk.
Use secure https websites, which show a padlock icon in the browser next to the web address. Even if someone is listening in, all they see is the meaningless encrypted traffic.
Use different passwords for different websites, and don’t use your email password for anything else. You can use a simpler password for websites that don’t have your credit card number than the one you use for online banking. Try this: Use the first letter of each word in a phrase that describes the website or of a song that relates to the site.
If your cellphone and phone contract support tethering, it can act as your own private Wi-Fi access point. You turn on its personal hotspot feature and give your hotspot a name and password. Then choose that hotspot from your computer. Make sure that your phone’s data plan won’t bankrupt you, though.