Public Wi-Fi networks are widespread these days in Canada. They are a great relief for most of us in public places, allowing endless entertainment and social activities without any interruption. Sounding too good to be true, public Wi-Fi networks are not free from security risks. Better put, they come with many risks for your digital identity and privacy. The safest option is to get a Canada VPN before exposing your devices to these open networks.
Let’s find out why.
Lack of Privacy and Access
One can argue that online activities are never private, whether on a public Wi-Fi or a private internet connection. That is true, but contrary to your internet connection, the owner of the network can easily track, view, and restrict your activities. This means all your social media activities, chats, passwords, and even banking details can be compromised.
Moreover, you might also not be able to access the content, or websites, blocked by the café, shopping mall, offices, or whoever provides free Wi-Fi. This is to help them cut down the internet usage by the users, but for you, it is a hindrance in pursuing your activities. Coming to the obvious solution, you can escape all these troubles if you have a Canada VPN, which will ensure privacy and also help you go past all the restrictions.
Risk of Hacking and Data Theft
We have discussed the person or entity providing you free Wi-Fi, but what about other users? Being on a public network means sharing a connection with all the people around you, who can be anyone. Hackers often look for these opportunities, where many people converge at a single network, which is the one they are sharing. This increases the risk and makes you an easy target of hacking and data theft.
VPN is your savior here as well. When you are browsing through a Canada VPN, or any other one, you don’t connect to the internet directly. Surely, you are using the connection, but the browsing is done using a private network, making your activities anonymous, hidden, and secure.
Also Read: How to Keep Your Data Safe from Being Misused
How to Stay Safe on a Public Wi-Fi?
The first and most obvious option is to avoid using public Wi-Fi. This is not always possible, as you can be out of internet data while in the middle of something important. In such a scenario, you can follow these tips:
Keep Your Wi-Fi Turned Off –
This will ensure that you are exposed to public Wi-Fi only when you need it and are aware of it.
Don’t Use Personal and Financial Information –
Always avoid using websites and apps where you have to share your details or have already saved them.
Use Websites and Apps with Data Encryption –
Find out which apps and websites use encrypted data, as those are safe to use even on public Wi-Fi. A Canada VPN automatically encrypts all data transfers, so you can use it to save from this trouble.
Stay Signed Out –
If you have permanently signed in to the social and financial apps on your phone. Sign out so whenever you need to use public Wi-Fi, those details are not shared.
Use Different Passwords –
This will help keep the apps and accounts you are not using safe from risks. Otherwise, compromising one password would mean sharing access to all your accounts.
These are some methods you can use to have security while surfing the internet on public Wi-Fi. As is evident, these tips are not easy to use and can’t always be an option, so the best thing is to either go for a Canada VPN or altogether avoid public networks.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that public Wi-Fi networks are attractive, as they save you from boredom in public places and are free to use. But, as discussed above, their usage comes with many certain risks, making them very costly for you even though it is free. It is always advisable for all internet users to use their mobile data instead of public Wi-Fi, as the former is not public and transfers data in an encrypted form. Another option, and the better one, is to get a Canada VPN and enjoy secure access to all social and entertainment activities without worrying about threats.