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Re-activateFree Wi-fi: It's convenient, it's social, and it's generally pretty reliable. But it could also be dangerous to use, if you're not careful about protecting your personal information.
When you hop online at Starbucks or Barnes & Noble, says Consumer Reports engineer Dean Gallea, "You're actually connecting into a computer network with strangers, and a hacker can get into personal information that you provide or even trick you into connecting to a fake hotspot." And in our new video, Dean demonstrates how easy that is to do just that.
CR's advice for using public Wi-fi: First, before you log on, confirm the name of the wireless network. You may see a number of available networks pop up, and a hacker could easily fake a name that sounds like the real thing.
Also, before you enter any personal information, look for "https" in the URL's address (as opposed to plain old "http"). The "s" stands for "secure" and tells you your data will be safe. A padlock icon in your address bar is another sign of a secure connection.
But what's the safest way to protect your important personal information? Just don't send it, says Dean.
Find lots more tips in our guide to online security at Consumer Reports Online.
—Carol Mangis
—Carol Mangis
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