Based on materials from blog.htc.com
Open Wi-Fi is a great and, most importantly, free thing that will help you on your travels, in between meetings, when you need to kill time, and in many other situations. We can find it in coffee shops, fast food chains, and other public places, and thanks to this service, you can quickly access the Internet from your laptop or mobile device, without wasting precious paid traffic.
In recent years, as the proliferation of mobile devices has grown, so has the popularity of open Wi-Fi. Some users specifically set their smartphones and tablets to automatically search for such networks. This often means that when you revisit a place where open Wi-Fi was used, the device will automatically connect to it. However, more than half of all unsecured networks can potentially be exploited by attackers, which means that using open Wi-Fi every day puts the user at risk. Therefore, to keep you and your device safe, there are some simple rules to follow.
Be alert
Make it a habit to work with sensitive information only on password-protected networks. With the right tools, an attacker can easily intercept data such as credit card numbers, social security information, passwords. Not using it anywhere, you better save yourself from trouble. In addition, you should not use instant messengers that offer free calls on open networks. Such software may have weaknesses and may not be protected from malicious traffic.
Change settings
You can prevent a device from recognizing and automatically connecting to Wi-Fi by changing its settings. On your Android device, you need to 'forget' the unsecured networks you used to use.
After realizing that you don't use Wi-Fi much outside your home or office, it's best to turn it off altogether.
Use VPN
If you need open Wi-Fi to protect your information, use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). There are several free options on Google Play including betternet's Unlimited Free VPN and TunnelBear VPN.
Take a closer look at the authentication page
One of the ways intruders can penetrate an open network is to create an access point masquerading as a real one. In this case, you think that you are logged into an open network, but in fact, you have fallen into a malicious 'double' whose purpose is to obtain information. To prevent this, many ISPs now offer company information home pages to convince users that they are connecting to a trusted site. A VPN can also protect against doppelgangers, but for extra protection, ask an employee at a specific location for the name of the local access point.
Your mobile device is a powerful tool that can connect you anytime, anywhere to work and play. And the proliferation of open Wi-Fi networks has made it extremely important to protect individuals and information from anything that could compromise them.
How do you protect yourself when using open networks? Have you or someone you know experienced any unpleasant experiences?