In case you had any doubt, the recent flap over Google’s Street View cars has made it clear that private data transmitted over Wi-Fi can quickly become not-so-private.
The good news is that there are ways to easily protect yourself, without going back to wired connections.
The easiest and most direct way is to simply protect your Wi-Fi with a password. But that’s not always an option — especially when you’re using a Wi-Fi in a public place, like a coffee shop. Many employers provide a secure VPN (virtual private network) for their employees, but many don’t, and they’re often limited.
Enter Private WiFi. The service provides VPN service to anyone for $9.95 a month. With the service, all the data going in or out of your computer gets encrypted. The software is designed to be always on (so you don’t have to remember to launch yet another app), and it’s both Windows- and Mac-compatible.
The service also gives the added bonus of anonymity. Since all your transmissions are routed through Private WiFi’s servers, it assigns your machine a temporary and random IP address. The company says the address can’t be traced, and no one will be able to determine your real IP address or location.
Although many tech threats are sometimes overblown (Y2K, anyone?), the danger from snoops on public Wi-Fi networks is very real. Even if you don’t opt for a service like Private WiFi, it’s a good idea not to input any sensitive date over a public Wi-Fi network.
How do you protect yourself on public Wi-Fi? Share your tips in the comments.
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