The next time you’re looking for a public WiFi hotspot at your favorite coffee shop and you come across one with a name like “Free WiFi network” or something similar, be careful as you may fall victim to a free WiFi scam!
A
survey by Norton found most consumers unaware of the dangers of public Wi-Fi hotspots and the risks of their
Internet privacy being exposed.
The survey’s findings can be summarized as:
• Most internet users find a strong, free Wi-Fi signal a blessing.
• Almost 55% of users were willing to share their data just to get free access.
• 71% had no qualms about using a hotel’s Wi-Fi while travelling.
• 43% agreed to connect to the Wi-Fi of cafés, bars, restaurants, etc.
• 53% weren’t able to differentiate between a secure and unsecure public Wi-Fi
• 75% don’t even bother to use a VPN while using public Wi-Fi hotspots
Interestingly enough, the same respondents of the survey also said that:
- 48 percent felt horrified about their financial information being hacked.
- 38 percent did not like the thought of their personal photos in the hands of an unauthorized person.
- 36 percent were worried about their kids’ data being available to someone else.
- 21 percent feared their private chats or messages going public.
The survey clearly shows just how laid-back people are when using a public wi-fi. In exchange for a free access point, they are okay with ignoring the integrity and security of their sensitive data, financial details, photos and other data. Moreover, people who uses cyrptocurrency and wallets, should also be wary of the dangers that lurk on public wi-fi hotspots.
