BBB of
WESTERN MICHIGAN, INC
CONSUMER ARTICLE
Issued: 04-11-2011 Contact: Ken Vander Meeden 616-774-8236 or Email: bbbceo@iserv.net
www.bbb.org
BBB
Advises Internet Surfers
to Use Caution When Using
Wi-Fi
Networks that Aren’t Their Own
Protecting
your identity is important and with Wi-Fi networks popping up nearly
everywhere, many consumers don’t realize the dangers that come with using a
Wi-Fi connection that is not their own. According to a recent poll conducted by
Wakefield Research and Wi-Fi Alliance, 32 percent of respondents said they have
tried to get on a Wi-Fi network that was not their own, a startling 18 percent
more than a December 2008 poll. The Better Business Bureau, along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), urges
consumers to think ahead before surfing the Web on a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Wi-Fi
hotpots like coffee shops, libraries, airports, hotels and universities are all
breeding grounds for hackers. According to the FTC, new hacking tools—available
for free online—make hacking easy, even for users with limited technical
know-how.
Consumers
should be cautious before using a non-secure wireless network and before
sending personal information via unencrypted websites. When surfing on a
non-secure Internet connection, an individual’s personal information, private
documents, contacts, photos and even login information can be up for grabs as
other users on the network have the capability of seeing what is being sent.
Ken
Vander Meeden, President of the Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan,
warns consumers against two popular security scams that can be associated with
using an unsecure Internet connection. “Many
consumers don’t realize the repercussions that come from using a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Phishing, a popular e-mailing scam, and smishing, a SMS texting scam, grow
exponentially when hackers obtain access to personal information on the Web via
an unsecure Wi-Fi network.” BBB urges consumers to protect themselves from
such scams by securing their Internet surfing.
In
order to confirm that an Internet connection is secure, BBB advises consumers
to follow the FTC’s top Wi-Fi tips:
- Make sure the connection is protected
by a unique password. If a Wi-Fi hotspot doesn’t ask for a password, the
Internet connection is not secure.
If a hotspot asks for a password just to grant access, consumers
should proceed as if the connection were unsecured. Only trust home and
work internet connections that are protected by a customized user
password. Wi-Fi hotspot connections with generic passwords are vulnerable
to hackers.
- Transmitted information should be
encrypted. When
sending personal information like addresses, credit card numbers and
Social Security numbers over the Internet, make sure the website is fully
encrypted and the network is secure. Look for https (the “s” stands for
secure) at the beginning of the URL address to confirm its security.
- Don’t stay permanently logged-in to
wireless hotspots. Never leave your Internet connection running while
your computer is unattended and make sure to log-off after every use.
- Change your passwords frequently. When creating
new accounts, make sure you use different passwords. Do not use the same
password for different sites. If one password is hacked, the chances of
other accounts being hacked becomes greater with repeated passwords.
For
more advice on security scams, visit www.bbb.org or to learn more
about protecting your privacy online and what to do if your information is
compromised, visit www.OnGuardOnline.gov and http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2011/02/wireless.shtm.
