PREVENT HACKING...SECURE YOUR COMPUTER(s)

		Connecting to Wi-Fi: Safe or Sorry?
		Wireless internet, casually known as Wi-Fi, can be a welcome convenience when you are on the go and need an internet connection fast. In fact, many cafés, airports, and parks offer Wi-Fi to which anyone in that area can connect without paying a fee. Some of these Wi-Fi networks are password protected, and some are not. In some cafés for example, you may have to ask an employee for the establishment’s Wi-Fi password in order to connect to it. In larger public places like airports or parks, you are more likely to be able to instantly connect. Most Wi-Fi networks are open and unsecured, so be sure that you are connecting to the right one. Hackers may name their networks something generic and seemingly straightforward like “Free Wi-Fi” to lure people onto them. From there, they could use programs like browser hacking software and mobile hacking software to see what users are doing on their computers. They could proceed to retrieve login information for websites their victims have visited, stealing usernames and passwords from social networks or even banking sites. Experts also agree that the most effective action you can take to secure yourself remotely or when on the go is to set up a virtual private network, or V.P.N. Virtual private networks encrypt your information, whether you are at home or at a Wi-Fi hotspot that your data is made unreadable. As an additional precaution, always make sure to install up-to-date security software on your computer(s). PC Tools Internet Security provides protection from hackers, cybercriminals, intruders and other unauthorized software or network attacks.

		Questions to Ask Yourself Before Using Free Wi-Fi
		Free Wi-Fi networks are everywhere—in cafés, libraries, maybe even at your neighbor’s place. Although most of us have at some point jumped onto one to send a quick email or check one little thing online, using these networks, particularly if they are unprotected, can be risky. We recommend that all wireless internet users educate themselves about the dangers of Wi-Fi hacking before connecting to a free Wi-Fi network. As a starting point, here are some questions to consider: Am I using financial information (credit card numbers, banking passwords) during this browsing session? Am I inputting social media usernames and passwords (for example, for popular social networks) during this browsing session? Should I be logging into this website from home, where it is safer to do so? Am I connecting to the Wi-Fi network from my phone, where I am just as susceptible to hackers? Do I need to use specific websites that may be blocked by a free Wi-Fi network’s settings? Can I connect to the free network immediately, or do I need to ask the establishment’s manager for a password? Am I connecting to the official network of the area I am in, or does this seem like an imposter network named something like “Free Wi-Fi”? What are the Wi-Fi settings on my laptop and phone? Do I automatically connect to the closest free Wi-Fi network? Do I really want this connection to happen all the time? Do I have “sharing” enabled on my laptop? Once you’ve answered these questions, either proceed with caution, or enjoy your latte and check your bank statement from the comfort and safety of your own home