Public Wi-Fi networks are often insecure. If you want to stay protected, how many general levels of network security are there?
How Many General Levels of Network Security?
When using public Wi-Fi, you can use a VPN to connect securely to your corporate network. A VPN automatically encrypts all traffic between your computer and the VPN server, protecting your data from prying eyes. All you need to do is connect to the corporate VPN server when you’re at home or in public Wi-Fi locations.
As long as you’re connected to the corporate VPN, any web browsing and email that you do will be encrypted. This is even if the website or email provider doesn’t support HTTPS.
What’s the Most Important Thing When Using Public Wi-Fi?
Your most important consideration when surfing the Internet in public Wi-Fi locations is to make sure that your computer is always protected. That is with an up-to-date antivirus solution and that you’re connected to a VPN. You can sometimes find free Wi-Fi at coffee shops or restaurants.
But these networks are often riddled with adware and spyware that will infect your computer within minutes if you don’t take precautions. Even if these networks don’t have security problems, you can only trust them as much as their administrators choose to trust them. What if an administrator has configured their network for everyone to use it freely?
Then it’s very likely that other people are using it freely. If you’re using a website that requires a username and password, then make sure that the website is HTTPS secured (the “S” means “secure”). If it isn’t, then someone could be listening in on your username and password information as it travels over the network.
VPN Traffic Encryption
Use a VPN! A VPN encrypts all traffic between your computer and the VPN server, protecting your data from prying eyes on both sides. Make sure that your computer is always protected by an up-to-date antivirus solution. Also, if you have an iPad, iPod, or another mobile device, you can use it to connect to your corporate network using a VPN.
If you’re using a public Wi-Fi network, your device will be protected from prying eyes. So, if you’re using a public Wi-Fi network, you might want to change the default security settings for any email account that you use. Most email accounts will automatically download messages over an insecure connection (unless you change the default settings).
Remote Access VPN is the most common type of VPN used for mobile devices.
Network Security Tips for Email
First thing, make sure that you send it from a computer rather than from your mobile device. If you’re using a public Wi-Fi network and you need to send an email message that contains sensitive information. Most email providers will automatically download mail messages over an insecure connection (unless the default settings are changed).
If you need to use your mobile device, then use a remote access VPN for that session. Change the default security settings for any email account that you use. So, emails are not automatically retrieved over an insecure connection. No matter what type of connection you’re using, never enter sensitive information.
These are such as passwords or credit card numbers in an email message. Instead, log into your company’s web portal securely and enter the information there.