Signal Summer 2019 Newsletter

www.alliancecom.net 13 How to Maintain SecurityWhen Using Public Wi-Fi Free public Wi-Fi is readily available in most communities, but it’s not necessarily as secure as your ownWi-Fi network. Waiting like a mugger in a dark corner may be a hacker, intercept- ing such information as your credit card numbers. Use these tips to make sure your information stays safe if you’re using public Wi-Fi: Treat all Wi-Fi links with suspicion. Don’t just assume the Wi-Fi link is legitimate. It could be a bogus link set up by a hacker. Try to verify it’s a legitimate wireless connection. Some bogus links will have a connection name that’s deliberately similar to the coffee shop or other venue that’s offering free Wi-Fi. Ask an employee about the legitimate Wi-Fi access point’s name and IP address.
 Adjust your default setting. Set it to prompt you to manually select a Wi-Fi network rather than have one automatically chosen for you. Avoid sensitive transactions. When using public Wi-Fi, don’t conduct financial/banking transactions or do online shopping. Protect your devices. Make sure you always have the current versions of your operating system, firewalls, Web browser, and antivirus and antispyware software. Another recommendation is to use Wi-Fi that is password protected and more secure than an open network. If you have a choice between secure and nonsecure, always choose the secure Wi-Fi network, even if you have to pay for it. that allows computers, smartphones, or other devices within a particular area to connect to the Internet (and each other) without being physically connected by a cable. Because information is transferred using wireless transmitters and radio signals, physical proximity to the Wi-Fi router is necessary for a good connection. But once connected, people can move around freely with their devices without losing their connection to the Internet. Understanding the Challenges of Wi-Fi By removing the need for a physical connection to access the Internet, Wi-Fi lets people take the Internet with them almost everywhere they go. This leap in technology means more than just being able to work from your local coffee shop. Businesses use Wi-Fi-enabled handheld devices to streamline processes and speed up customer service. Yet, as convenient as Wi-Fi is, it doesn’t automatically solve your networking problems. For example, having a strong Wi-Fi connection doesn’t necessarily mean you have a good Internet connection—or that you’re connected to the Internet at all. It just means that your device can communicate with the Wi-Fi router. The other concern is security. Wi-Fi routers are designed to allow all Wi-Fi-enabled devices that are “in range” to connect, which is not always desir- able, especially if someone wants to use your Wi-Fi network to piggy-back on your Internet service. For this reason, you should make sure your home Wi-Fi network is password-protected so that only authorized users can connect to it. Furthermore, when you access someone else’s Wi-Fi network, the owner of that network can potentially see all the infor- mation you’re sending and receiving, including user names and passwords. A Powerful Combination As long as you understand the difference between the Internet and Wi-Fi, and take steps to protect yourself from online threats, you can connect from virtually anywhere without worry. FAST FACT: As an acronym, Wi-Fi doesn’t stand for any- thing. Interbrand coined the term as a play on the term “Hi-Fi” or “High Fidelity.”