Identity Theft from WiFi Hotspots

Many hotels, airports and motorway service stations offer WiFi hotspots so that we can pick up our emails or access the internet whilst we’re travelling.  Should you take advantage of them or not?

Security experts warn that hackers may be masquerading as free public WiFi providers to gain access to the laptops of unsuspecting travellers.  It’s difficult to tell if the WiFi hotspot is legitimate or not.

Make sure you use your inbuilt security measures – install and use a firewall, anti-virus, anti-malware etc.  The most up to date wireless security system is WPA2 – this provides greater protection than its predecessors WPA and WEP.

The general advice is to connect only to networks that you trust, disconnect the wireless when you stop using it, do not use unknown networks to make online purchases or to do any online banking.