Tips and Best Practices for Public WiFi Safety

The U.S. State Department’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) has published a one page report on tips and best practices for maximizing personal security when using public WiFi networks. The OSAC product references a Norton report in which it was noted that 71% of consumers consider a strong WiFi signal a deciding factor when traveling rather than security considerations. The tips and best practices identified and described in OSAC’s report include using a virtual private network (VPN), not transmitting personal data (e.g., bank account information), and changing passwords prior to and after travel. OSAC also reminds its audience that a public WiFi network with a password is not considered “secure,” as a third party who knows the password can conduct the same nefarious activity as they would on a network without password protection.