Safe surfing in public WLAN networks

When connecting to a public WLAN, users usually release sensitive information without their knowledge. This can be used by hackers to harm them. Prevent cyberattacks by taking some simple precautions before connecting to a public network.

Precautions when surfing in public WLAN networks

Whoever connects to a public WLAN network without taking precautions runs the risk of having personal data read by third parties. Passwords and credit card information are particularly at risk. To reduce the risk of cyber attacks, you should follow a few tips to make surfing on public networks more secure.

Important tips

1. VPN service: Do not connect directly to public WLAN services, but interpose a VPN tunnel. On the net you will find a variety of suitable offers.
2. Only call secured connections: In the browser, you should only open websites that use the HTTPS protocol. Your browser usually warns you about insecure connections. Do not bypass this warning.
3. Perform updates: Updates close security gaps and update important information. Especially the operating system, drivers and browsers should always be up to date
4. Enable firewall: Windows' internal firewall provides good protection. Activate it by typing "Firewall" in the Windows search bar and then click "Enable firewall".
5. Disable shares: If you have shared folders with other networks, disable these shares before connecting to public networks.