Safely Using Free WiFi Overseas

Public WiFi is widely available overseas from hotel rooms to cafés, so it’s important you understand how to stay safe when hooking up.

Double Down on Security

Whether you’re connecting by phone or laptop, make sure to increase the security on your device before traveling. Spend a little extra money to help protect yourself so you won’t have your identity stolen overseas.

Use a VPN

A virtual private network is a great way to keep hackers out of your business. By creating a network within a network you’ll make hackers have to work twice as hard to violate your privacy. There are plenty of subscription services offering VPNs.

Only Use Password-Protected WiFi

Hotels and cafés usually encrypt their free WiFi with a password. Do not hook up to a connection without one. That’s just asking for trouble. Double-check with the business owner that you’re connecting to the right hotspot while you’re at it.

Change Your Passwords

Before hopping on the plane you should change your passwords to something difficult to hack. Use a combination of words, letter and symbols rather than something easy to remember. You can change it back once you get home.

Don’t Check Sensitive Stuff

Avoid checking your bank account and other money-related accounts while you’re hooked up to free WiFi. Save that for sapping up your phone’s data plan in order to minimize the risk of being hacked.