Customers warned about the dangers of using free public Wi-Fi

As people look for diversity in working spaces from their normal ‘work-from-home’ routine while still under lockdown, such as coffee shops, the use of free public Wi-Fi networks and hot spots calls for caution when accessing your banking or managing finances on laptops or mobile devices.

Giuseppe Virgillito, head of digital banking at FNB, said: “Consumers accessing free public Wi-Fi networks can potentially fall victim to cybercrime as fraudsters can get access to their passwords, personal and banking information.

“Connecting to any open or public Wi-Fi can expose you to security and privacy risks, including ‘person-in-the-middle’ attacks. “While not all free public Wi-Fi networks are unsafe, you can never be absolutely certain that they aren’t compromised.

“Criminals have the ability to hack into free public Wi-Fi networks and use sophisticated hacking techniques like installing key logging spyware to view and steal the information that you enter online.”

He shared key safety tips that consumers should consider when accessing the internet through free public Wi-Fi networks:

• Never log into your internet banking profile on a free public Wi-Fi network. It is safer to use your mobile network data.

• Avoid sharing private information and documents with service providers, friends or colleagues on free public Wi-Fi networks.

• Beware of connecting to spoofed or fake Wi-Fi hot spots that may be set up by criminals for the sole purpose of stealing your information. Make sure you have the correct name of the free public Wi-Fi network that you are accessing.

• Update your network settings to ensure your mobile device does not automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks, as malicious apps may be downloaded without your knowledge.

• Always ensure you disconnect from any Wi-Fi network once done or simply turn off your Wi-Fi.

• Avoid shopping online or entering credit card details through free public Wi-Fi networks.

• Be careful when logging into social networks on free public Wi-Fi networks you aren’t familiar with as fraudsters can get access to your personal information and use it for illegal purposes.

• Download free Trend Antivirus and Antimalware for your Smartphone, tablet or laptop and update the software regularly. Login to FNB Online Banking and click the link at the bottom of the screen to download and activate your free antivirus and antimalware.

• If you think your smartphone, tablet or laptop might be compromised while using a free public Wi-Fi network, exit the network and scan your device using your antivirus app or software.

• Browse and only download from trusted websites. Make sure you are not on a spoof site by clicking on the security icon on your browser tool bar to see that the URL begins with https rather than http.

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