Consumer Protection Tuesday: How to Keep Your Private Info Safe When Using Public Wi-Fi

This post is part of a weekly Tuesday series at Coinbase about the latest consumer protection and security measures for crypto owners.

At Coinbase, we’re working hard to help update the financial system, and make it more safe and secure. While only 0.34% of blockchain transactions are used for illicit activity, and cash remains the preferred medium for illicit transactions, crypto security is always a top priority. Coinbase maintains a robust compliance program, which includes Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, sanctions screenings, suspicious activity reporting, and strong law enforcement partnerships to detect and prevent illicit activity on our platform.

Safety Tips for Travelers Using Public Wi-Fi

Accessing private info on public Wi-Fi carries more risks than you may realize.

Since most public Wi-Fi is shared widely with few safeguards it can leave you exposed to security threats. These include hacker malware, identity and data theft, intermediary attacks, and computer worms (malware designed to spread to other devices).

Many people access public Wi-Fi several times a month without giving it a second thought.

You can take necessary precautions by using protective software especially when traveling to new countries. Be extra cautious when viewing private info such as your bank account or crypto wallet on a shared network.

Follow these quick tips to stay safe when public Wi-Fi is your only option.

Fortify Your Mobile Device

Stay Alert: Hackers will create bad Wi-Fi networks that resemble nearby business names to trick you into connecting. They will try to use these bad networks to infect your device with malware. 

Cybercriminals can also steal your personal info on a shared network and use it to hack into your accounts or create targeted phishing scams.

Be Prepared: Set strong passwords that only you know and use biometric authentication that gives only you access. You can take further precautions when connected to public Wi-F by using antivirus software, secure browser extensions, and HTTPS websites.

Never display your password, seed phrase, or other sensitive account info on a shared network. Also turn off file sharing and disable auto Wi-Fi on your device.

Stay on Guard When Browsing

Stay Alert: Hackers use rogue hotspots, session hijacking, website spoofing, and other deceptive tactics to eavesdrop on public Wi-Fi users. This can expose your passwords, messages, and other sensitive data to thieves.

Be Prepared: Take proactive measures and be extra careful when logging into your accounts on a shared network. Protecting your personal records, work platforms, and private messages should always be top priority.

Spot and Block Computer Worms

Stay Alert: Similar to the way germs spread in the air, computer worms can infect your device if it's within range. These viral threats are hard to detect and can lead to direct hacks and data theft.

Be Prepared: Antivirus software such as Norton, TotalAV, and Bitdefender provide trusted security but not total protection. New viruses and other kinds of malware are constantly popping up. Find the best software for your needs and always keep your seed phrase written down in a safe place offline.

If your data is compromised, you can delete and restore your wallet and other accounts as long as you have secure access.