The Public Free WI-FI, Essay Example

There are few problems associated with the use of WI-FI network that is public. First, most are non-encrypted, thus WI-FI snooping can occur easily. Secondly, free public networks as well as the hotspot that you connect may be malicious.

Encryption helps to secure your network traffic. This means that others people cannot see the page you are viewing since you have encrypted the wireless traffic – with your WI-FI passphrase- between your phone or laptop and perhaps your wireless router.

Free public WI-FI networks like those in a train, or coffee shop are in most cases not encrypted. When you connect to this unencrypted network, you become visible to anyone in the close range using the same network. People can view the web pages you are visiting, the data you are typing and entering into unencrypted website forms. In addition, with help of tools such Firesheep and Wireshark, they can see the encrypted websites that you access. This means that if you are accessing sensitive website such as shopping or bank sites, they will know. Although they will not know what exactly you are doing, you will still be venerable. Remember it is your private information that is now flying through the air for anyone with tools such as Firesheep and Wireshark to pick. Whether or not they can read your private information, depend on the security that the browsing device and the access point provide.

How can you protect yourself? One important thing to remember is that, avoid doing sensitive things like accessing your bank on public WI-FI, network. If you must ensure that, you do it on encrypted website.