How to protect your laptop when using public Wi-Fi

We all know that public Wi-Fi poses a myriad of security risks, enough to make many people want to avoid it altogether. However, in reality, the convenience sometimes makes it hard to say no.

Especially when traveling or working, without a home network or mobile hotspot, public Wi-Fi often becomes the only option to work, access email or search for information. However, along with that convenience comes a not small risk such as personal data can be leaked, even become the target of hackers.

Instead of passively accepting the risk, we can proactively apply some basic but effective security measures. These steps will help protect your laptop and important information, making public Wi-Fi connections much safer.

1. Verify network name and password

One of the common tricks that hackers often use at public Wi-Fi hotspots is to set up a fake network with a name similar to the official network. Just a little carelessness, we can connect to the wrong network and accidentally give data access to the bad guys.

So the first and most important step to protecting your device is to verify the network name (SSID) and password carefully. At coffee shops, airports or hotels, ask the staff directly for the correct information, instead of trusting the "familiar" networks that appear on the connection list.

If the location has a sign, we should also check it to be sure. This small habit helps prevent the risk of falling into fake Wi-Fi traps, protecting laptops and personal data when connecting to public places.

2. Use a virtual private network

One of the most important measures when using public Wi-Fi is to activate a virtual private network (VPN). This tool creates an encrypted “tunnel,” keeping all internet traffic secure and hiding online activity from prying eyes, including hackers lurking online.

With VPN, we can safely browse the web, send emails or make financial transactions without worrying about data being stolen.

3. Use multi-factor authentication on your account

Even if hackers steal your password, it will be difficult for them to break into your account if you enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). This mechanism requires multiple layers of verification, such as OTP codes sent via SMS, authenticator apps, or physical security keys, making unauthorized logins nearly impossible.

This is an important layer of defense that everyone should enable for their email, social media, and financial services accounts. In addition, when connecting to public Wi-Fi, we should also limit sensitive operations such as logging into banks or accessing personal profiles.

The risk of real-time data theft still exists, and it's best to avoid the risk in the first place. A combination of safe habits and MFA will help our accounts be more comprehensively protected.

4. Only visit secure websites with HTTPS protocol

When using public Wi-Fi, one of the basic but extremely important principles is to only access secure websites with HTTPS protocol. Paying attention to the prefix “https://” and the small lock icon in the address bar helps us ensure that the transmitted data is encrypted, minimizing the risk of being eavesdropped or faked by bad guys.

However, that alone is not enough. Another layer of defense that cannot be ignored is the firewall. Firewalls help prevent unauthorized access from the outside, acting as a protective barrier for computers when connecting in a potentially risky network environment.

By combining safe web browsing habits with keeping a firewall on, we can significantly reduce our risk of being attacked, and feel more secure when working, shopping, or entertaining on public networks.

5. Turn off file and printer sharing

One of the simple yet effective ways to protect your computer when using public Wi-Fi is to turn off unnecessary sharing features. This helps prevent hackers from silently accessing and exploiting files on our devices.

Come inSetting, selectNetwork and Internet>Advanced network settings>Advanced sharing settings, then turn it offFile and printer sharing. This is a convenient feature when working in an internal network, but becomes a potential vulnerability in a public environment.

Besides, we should also turn off the option.Explore the networkto add an extra layer of protection. With these two small steps, the device will be harder to identify online, thereby minimizing the risk of being targeted by bad guys./.

Phan Van Hoa