Risks connecting public wireless network

Risks connecting public wireless network

Hello Charmaine Potter,

As an Internet savvy, I always want to feel updated with what's going on in the web every now and then, even when I'm out going to the mall. And when I check the connections for any WiFi, I always feel giddy when I find one and able to connect. But am I really sure if connecting to an unknown public wireless network is safe to use? To help answer your question, there is a simple answer to that:

Connecting to an unsecured public wireless network can be a venue to any data theft, especially passwords or private information (i.e. credit card information). A perfect example is how radios work. A radio doesn't send information to a particular direction, but it broadcasts to any direction that receives the airwaves. And because of this, anyone nearby can get a hold of the data sent by the radio. If it's unsecured, it can be read. Just like connecting to unsecured WiFi connections, anyone can pick up the data.

To avoid this, make sure that your Firewall is on. This will help guard your data from incoming attackers. 

I hope I answered your question.