Information Security - How do I secure my device - Wi-Fi on the go: secure or not?

Free Wi-Fi on the train or on holiday – how convenient! The less you use your data bundle, the better. But beware: this isn't always secure. What should you bear in mind? 

Be careful with public Wi-Fi networks

Public wifi can be useful when you don't have mobile internet (3G/4G) at your disposal or when it is very expensive. Still, it can happen that someone is watching with you. This allows your (login) data to be eavesdropped on and personal data to be captured.

Eduroam is always secure. Consult the map to see where Eduroam is available.

A few key points for attention

When connecting to public Wi-Fi

  • Consult a VPN. This sets up a 'tunnel' that encrypts all data transmitted through the Wi-Fi connection, so nobody can spy on you.
  • Be aware that someone in your vicinity may set up a fake free Wi-Fi hotspot. For example, when you see 'Free airport Wi-Fi' at an airport, this may be someone with a laptop sitting next to you who is trying to entrap people. Always find out the name of the real Wi-Fi network.
  • Remember that Wi-Fi networks that require you to log in with a personal user name and a password are more secure than the ones that don't ask for credentials. Criminals may set up a duplicate of an existing Wi-Fi network. This is much easier to do if you've set up your device to connect automatically.