Is Free WiFi safe? Yes it is..with precaution
Free WiFi or Hotspots are public places where Internet conectivity is avaiable to anyone within the broadcasting range. Generally it's safe to use hotpots with some precautions. As example, you might avoid visiting websites that require you to login or send usernames or password. Even if a free WiFi network is encrypted.
There are 2 different types of encryption. An old protocol known as Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and WiFi Protected Access (WPA).
WEP can be easily broken with readily available software. Only the stronger WPA will prevent local snoops from being able to decipher the dialog between your computer and the wireless router. In all cases the router will decipher traffic before sending it on to the Internet, so online snoops will still be able to read unencrypted data exchanged between yourself and the Internet. WPA will only stop local snoops from reading wireless traffic.
WEP can be easily broken with readily available software. Only the stronger WPA will prevent local snoops from being able to decipher the dialog between your computer and the wireless router. In all cases the router will decipher traffic before sending it on to the Internet, so online snoops will still be able to read unencrypted data exchanged between yourself and the Internet. WPA will only stop local snoops from reading wireless traffic.
While free WiFi is safe for secure websites, highly sensitive activities should only be performed from your own computer. A public computer should not be trusted for anything but casual surfing. Computers store passwords, usernames and other revealing data in a type of memory called cache making it possible to retrieve later by others. A public computer could also be infected with keylogger software that records keystrokes, defeating the purpose of point-to-point encryption by trapping account numbers, usernames and passwords as they are typed into the keyboard.
So, be careful and take precautions. Better late than sorry. Having our own computer is better than using the public one. Btw, now computer is very cheap, if u can't afford to buy the new one still got options by buying the second hand or refurbished. Same brand same quality but cheaper.
Somemore now free WiFi or hot spots is everywhere. Just take precautions and you will enjoy surfing...happy and disaster free.
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