Open Wi-Fi Will So Easily to The User Event

Open Wi-Fi will so easily to the user event- Still, the offer of public Wi-Fi networks in Germany is quite tenuous. After the Federal Government gave up its opposition to free networks, that should soon change. Then for example Cafés, restaurants and hotels without much effort can offer free Wi-Fi - a so-called hot - spot. The customers can surf so regardless of data volume, check mails, and watch Internet videos.

Unfortunately, this is not entirely harmless. To be on the safe side, you should note the following rules in a hotspot.

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#1: not every Wi-Fi hotspot is well intentioned

Everyone can be in the blink of an eye to the wireless operator, also criminals. So a cheater could lie behind the Wi-Fi name (SSID) "Beer garden Internet" or "Bahnhof_Berlin", who wants to grab passwords and other data.

If you want to connect to an open Wi-Fi, you sure whether the operator is reputable. While in a café rather quickly the correct Wi-Fi name ask for, this succeeds only laboriously in shopping centers or airports. In case of doubt do not prefer the HotSpot. Your Smartphone or computer shows them several very similar Wi-Fi networks, special caution is required.

#2: disable automatic dialing

Mobile devices typically automatically search for available Wi-Fi networks. Smartphones and tablets can connect even automatically to open hotspots. Go Wi-Fi scam artists not on the glue, be sure in the Wi-Fi settings by Smartphone and co., that your device only with your consent will connect.

#3: use only encrypted services

An operator can intercept without much knowledge of special passwords and unencrypted messages, read books and cookies or hijack the user's Facebook identity. Free apps already provide some more options than the dubious opportunity operator at all can take advantage of.

But even within a reputable Wi-Fi be sure, only encryption to communicate. This is marked by the Adresszeilenanfang 'https' and usually a green padlock in the browser. The castle in red appears the encryption is incomplete. Even no symbol appears go the data in clear text through the ether. Here you could test whether parallel also an encrypted version is offered. Change the preceding "http" in the address bar just to "https". The active encryption browser reports a certificate error, caution is also advised.

To the encrypted transferred chat for example, Threema or telegram includes tools, recently also WhatsApp. Here sniffer bite out their teeth, as long as the user is moving only within this app. However, he clicks on a link with another app opens, is the risk that data can be read from again.

Also an inconsequential email encrypted only

Use a mail app, the mail provider must provide encrypted input and output servers. In the settings for the E-mail account that can be under the item "Connection security" see. There must be "SSL" or "TLS", are the ports 993 and 995 for incoming and usually 465 for outgoing mails. Will be broadcast in unencoded form, this applies also the passwords. Then even the query an inconsequential email becomes a danger, because an attacker could hijack your account in no time.

#4: fewer hotspot users mean less risk

Using appropriate professional tools also co-users can access the data of other participants. It can't hurt at least once roughly to estimate how large the potential danger in this Wi-Fi could be. Even if this is never to judge, it can make the difference of whether you go into a small, little-visited Café in the Wi-Fi or in an ICE with hundreds of participants.

#5: use in banking transactions better VPN
If you want to create the security barriers higher still for banking, you could use a VPN connection. So you insulate himself from other users such as in a tunnel. Here, it is helpful if the hotspot operator provides this connectivity by itself, what is for example at the Telekom case. If not, OpenVPN clients offer. These are available for several operating systems, desktop and mobile. You are however usually not free.

Even if it costs extra money and is slower: instead of an uncertain operator Wi-Fi mobiles is recommended for sensitive data more. The Smartphone does not yet automatically latches, the Wi-Fi must be disabled temporarily.

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