Millions risk identify theft because they are so eager to use free public Wi-Fi

Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

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Millions risk identify theft because they are so eager to use free public Wi-Fi

Is a hotspot real or malicious? Many consumers simply don't check. New research of 2,000 people has revealed that 79% of public Wi-Fi users take significant risks when choosing hotspots. Instead of taking the time to check that a hotspot is legitimate, users are selecting hotspots based on Wi-fi- strength, a name that seems appropriate, or just picking any free option.

Unexpectedly, the figure is highest for the most experienced, with 86% of daily public Wi-Fi users putting convenience ahead of safety when choosing hotspots. The survey carried out by cybersecurity company, BullGuard, revealed that 4 in 10 users look for a Wi-Fi name that somewhat matches their location, for example 'coffee shop Wi-Fi' - but this is exactly the type of name hackers set up to try and fool people into choosing a malicious hotspot with the intention of stealing personal data.

Even though they've spent little or no time checking that a hotspot is legitimate, many respondents are accessing websites using very confidential data. More than a third of daily public Wi-Fi users log into personal accounts requiring a password, 22% use credit cards, and 31% log into online banking, exactly the type of data hackers are looking to steal.

Despite their eagerness to get online, most people are also very concerned about safety with less than one in ten being 'very confident' that they know how to stay safe when using public Wi-Fi. Furthermore, 62% of daily public Wi-Fi users admit to being afraid that their devices will be hacked and their information stolen. Consumers are most worried about the safety of banking info (68%), passwords (56%) and email content (27%).

"Brits are choosing convenience over safety, when using public Wi-Fi. The findings show that respondents do not feel safe online, yet they are ignoring their fears and are using hotspots without checking they are safe," said Paul Lipman, CEO at BullGuard. "Hackers can easily set up malicious hotspots which appear to be legitimate and yet can intercept and record people's personal data, allowing them to steal usernames, passwords, credit card details, bank account information and more."

The BullGuard survey also revealed that 63% of people that use public Wi-Fi daily have their devices set up to 'automatically connect to the strongest Wi-Fi signal', or to 'automatically connect to Wi-Fi hotspots they've used before.'

"If your device is set up this way, and if you're not paying attention when you first choose a hotspot, even once, and you accidentally choose something malicious, your device will automatically select it every time its within range," Lipman added.

Even if users think they're protected, worryingly the results show that consumers aren't sure how to keep themselves safe when using public Wi-Fi with almost half (47%) believing antivirus will prevent their data from being intercepted.

"Although essential for detecting and removing malware from your device, antivirus offers no protection at all from having your data intercepted by a malicious hotspot," said Lipman.

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is an effective way of keeping you safe online when using public Wi-Fi. It creates a secure connection tunnel between your device and the websites and services you are accessing to keep you safe whether you're using a smartphone or laptop on public Wi-Fi in a cafe, or if you want to check online banking accounts from an airport or hotel.
However, the survey revealed that 60% don't use a VPN, with 57% of those respondents saying they think it's too complicated or that they don't know how to use one.

"A VPN doesn't need to be complicated. For example, BullGuard VPN is designed for regular users. It doesn't require technical knowledge, install it on your device and it just works 24/7 giving you the peace of mind that you are not being tracked online and that hackers can't intercept your personal data," concluded Lipman.

Top activities carried out whilst on public Wi-Fi

Logging into a personal email account (42%)
Using Social Media or any other account with auto login (36%)
Logging into any account requiring a password (31%)
Filling in forms with personal details - e.g. name, address, date of birth, telephone number (18%)
Online banking (17%)