4 tips to safely surf on a public Wi-Fi network

France is one of the European countries that have the largest number of public hotspot Wi-Fi. With more than 13 million public hotspots, there are more hotspots in France than in the USA with only 10 million* public hotspots. It is an asset for mobility, but some precautions should be taken before connecting to hotspots. Even if there is no magical solution to avoid potential risks, following some basic rules brings a peaceful surfing and connectivity experience.

1.Connect to a well-known Wi-Fi network

If you have to choose between a well-known public Wi-Fi (like the one offered by shopping malls or Starbucks) and an unidentified network that can belong to an individual, it is better to connect on the first one because the owner has probably better secured the network.

2. Keep your antivirus software updated

Updating antivirus software or firewall on his/her computers, tablets or smartphones is essential to limit the risks when connecting to a public network. Using the company hardware (like professional phones), it is highly recommended to use the VPN (Virtual Private Network) and to respect the corporate guidance.

3.A simple login portal

When connecting to Wi-Fi networks, the access portal usually asks for some information like name, surname and email address.

If a lot of personal information is requested or if this data is not pertinent for connecting, vigilance is the key and we advise you not to connect to the network.

4.Favour secured applications and websites

To connect on a web page, check that the connection is done through a secured protocol, with an internet address that starts with https:// (with an S, meaning Secure). Via smartphone, it is better to use well-known applications like Gmail, Facebook or WhatsApp that are more secured than websites. Moreover, the application is more ergonomic and navigation is optimized.

Surfing safely on a public Wi-Fi network is easy; you only need to respect some good practice!
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