How to Secure Your Hotspot Session

If you are constantly finding yourself using public hotspots, this is one article that you would not want to miss out on. Many people use public WiFi hotspots in areas like airports, coffee houses etc. However, the problem comes in when people do not take the proper precautions before setting up such a network. There are a few different things you can do and should do to help lock-down your internet session.

First and foremost, you should use a VPN which stands for Virtual Private Network. This is one of the more common tools you will not see being used. For some odd reason, people completely neglect this tool even though it is free and provides you with some tight security. All you need to do is install it and enter a password. Simple, isn’t it? Another option that you can take up is a firewall. Windows and the Mac OS both have firewalls pre-installed so you should definitely make the most of it. Threats exist in all types of computer systems so it is important that you take up the necessary precautions. Mac and Windows both do a good job in providing a firewall. Windows users can also opt for a open source solution if you want.

The next suggestion is fairly simple. When you are browsing the internet, choose Firefox to do your browsing rather than Internet Explorer etc. Firefox is known for its security options and Internet Explorer is known to be the most vulnerable browser in terms of being hacked. Creating a password can be quite a headache so it is really important that you make a strong one; one that you can remember.

The last tip we have to offer is to use an antivirus. There are many good ones out there that you can buy. The antivirus that I use is ESET NOD32 but then again, I also use Microsoft Essentials. Most antivirus software are open sourced so do not worry about their compatibility.

For more details on securing a hotspot, read our article on Tips for Securing a WiFi Hotspot.