Avoid the following actions on Wi-Fi networks available in public places

Public and free Wi-Fi such as those available in airports, hotels, restaurants and cafes may seem on the surface a blessing, but its use carries many risks, which requires caution to protect information from hackers.

In a report published by the American magazine Real Simple, author Catherine McKinley said that the publisher of the security program Kaspersky has noticed that hackers can penetrate the network you are connected to, allowing them to capture any information you send over the Internet, including emails, financial information, usernames and passwords. .

The author advised to be wary of everything while on public Wi-Fi, and recommends using a VPN and installing a malware scanner like Norton Secure VPN or MalwareBytes to be extra vigilant.

It added, quoting Kaspersky that hackers can also use public and unsecured Wi-Fi to target your laptop, smartphone or tablet with malware, stressing the need to avoid the following seven things to maintain information integrity:

1- Verify the legality of Wi-Fi The author explained that hackers may create fake Wi-Fi hotspots using names similar to the site that provides free Wi-Fi, allowing them to intercept the user's private information.

She explains that the best way to make sure you're on the right network is to talk to an employee and get a contact name, IP address, and password.

2- Do not use an unsecured network if there is a secure alternative A secure Wi-Fi network needs a password to connect, agree to legal terms, or create an account, and some secured networks may require you to pay a fee or buy something from the store before the staff gives you the password.

3- Do not shop onlineConnecting to an unsecured Wi-Fi for shopping requires logging into the store and entering your credit card information to make a purchase, and it is possible that you have given your information to hackers who may take advantage of it in the connection itself, so you should refrain from making any transaction until you can shop through a secure network.

4- Avoid checking your bank account The author stressed the importance of adding other security features to any financial accounts such as two-factor authentication that makes it difficult for thieves to access your information, and said that all the user has to do is check a text message or an authentication app to get a custom code.

5- Do not access websites that begin with “http: //” TripSavi recommends that users when logging into their accounts make sure that the website address begins with “https: //” or displays a lock icon in the address bar of the site , which means that the site is encrypted and secured.

And if the site uses the old and simple "http://" without the "s", you should not enter usernames, passwords or personal information there.

6- Do not leave your phone or computer unattended Some thieves try to steal your information the old-fashioned way by eavesdropping and trying to monitor personal information while using your laptop or phone, so it is important to cover your keyboard or phone screen when you type in your PIN or login information.

Hackers may target a phone or laptop that the owner left unlocked and walk away for a few moments when he has to leave his place, so you should turn off the laptop or phone, and take it with you.

7- Don't leave your Bluetooth on when you don't need it Although this has nothing to do with public Wi-Fi, it is important to know that the Bluetooth connection can be hacked as discovered by a research team that tested security vulnerabilities in Bluetooth connections.

The researchers were able to "listen to or change the content of the nearby Bluetooth connection".