By Jaclyn Hart / CBS 6 Intern
On average how many times a day would you say you go on the Internet? How many times does that include going online via the Wi-Fi connection from your smartphone? The dangers of using a Wi-Fi connection seem very miniscule but according to the Better Business Bureau, along with the Federal Trade Commission, the threat of using a non-secure Internet connection is something you should always be thinking about.
With many places making Wi-Fi available you may be using it without even realizing. Some popular places that provide a Wi-Fi connection are coffee shops, libraries, airports, hotels and universities. These places have created a breeding ground for hackers. These hackers are able to gain access to your login and password to personal things including your email, Facebook and iTunes; if you have a credit card linked to your iTunes they can gain access to that as well.
In order to protect yourself from Internet hackers and ensure that an Internet connection is secure follow these tips provided by BBB from the FTC:
- Make sure the connection is protected by a unique password. If a Wi-Fi hotspot doesn’t ask for a password, the Internet connection is not secure. If a hotspot asks for a password just to grant access, consumers should proceed as if the connection were unsecured. Only trust home and work internet connections that are protected by a customized user password. Wi-Fi hotspot connections with generic passwords are vulnerable to hackers.
- Transmitted information should be encrypted. When sending personal information like addresses, credit card numbers and Social Security numbers over the Internet, make sure the website is fully encrypted and the network is secure. Look for https (the “s” stands for secure) at the beginning of the URL address to confirm its security.
- Don’t stay permanently logged-in to wireless hotspots. Never leave your Internet connection running while your computer is unattended and make sure to log-off after every use.
- Change your passwords frequently. When creating new accounts, make sure you use different passwords. Do not use the same password for different sites. If one password is hacked, the chances of other accounts being hacked becomes greater with repeated passwords.
