Threats of Doing Business on Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi may be convenient, but it poses hidden threats that can jeopardize your business’s data security. From man-in-the-middle attacks to unsecured connections, the risks of using public Wi-Fi networks for businesses are often underestimated.
This article explores how public Wi-Fi leaves sensitive data vulnerable and outlines strategies to protect your team when working remotely.
Learn how to minimize exposure and keep your business safe—even on the go.
Why Public Wi-Fi is Risky for Businesses
Public Wi-Fi is typically unsecured, that is, unencrypted and wide open to anyone showing up in the area, which is precisely why cybercriminals target these networks. Employees may expose the sensitive information they use at work, login credentials, or internal communications to hackers by connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks.
Unlike private corporate networks, public Wi-Fi networks don’t have monitoring or any protections in place that limit a hacker’s ability to eavesdrop on their communication or inject malware into their computers without being detected. If a breach occurs on the public networks, you’re looking at issues such as a breach of data, monetary penalties for not following regulatory rules, and loss of trust from clients. The risks surrounding public networks are important considerations for establishing secure mobile work policies.
Most Common Cyber Threats on Public Wi-Fi
Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
A man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack occurs when a hacker secretly intercepts and potentially alters the communication between two parties (your employee and the corporate network). When an employee connects their device to public Wi-Fi, the attacker can sit between the device and the internet, capturing business-sensitive information (emails, passwords, financial records, and other data) before it reaches the corporate network.
Malware Distribution
Hackers use unsecured public networks to distribute malware packages that can compromise business networks. Hackers can exploit the inherent weaknesses in the public Wi-Fi connection itself or social engineer your employees through bogus updates, allowing them to install spyware, ransomware, or keyloggers on the Company’s devices. When these employees return to work or connect to a secure company network, this malware package takes over their entire device or network.
Credential Theft and Identity Fraud
Public Wi-Fi can create an opportunity for cybercriminals to grab your employees’ login credentials with the use of professional-looking phishing sites or packet sniffing. Once attackers have an employee’s username or password, they can impersonate employees or contractors of the company to access confidential business platforms, and even complete unauthorized transactions like buying plain access to the system based on their privileged access.
Practical Steps to Protect Your Business Data
Use a VPN and Firewall
A business trader VPN, for your employees who connect to public wi-fi, encrypts all data being sent over the unsecured Wi-Fi so that a 3rd party cannot see their information, like credit card numbers or banking credentials. It would be best to combine the VPN with a properly set up firewall that can block unwanted malicious traffic and unwanted access.
Encrypt Sensitive Information
Data encryption is capable of changing sensitive files and messages into an unreadable format that cannot be deciphered by unauthorized users. Even if an attacker were to intercept your encrypted data, they wouldn’t be able to use it without the correct decryption key.
Regularly Update Devices
Cybercriminals exploit known vulnerabilities of software; therefore, keeping all operating systems, applications, and security tools updated on business devices is imperative. By performing regular updates, you close gaps in security, while improving how effectively devices fight against attacks dallied out through public Wi-Fi.
Best Practices for Employees Using Public Wi-Fi
Connect Only to Trusted Networks
Unless it is absolutely necessary, your employees should NOT connect to public Wi-Fi. If they must connect, they have to verify the name of the network with the provider (the café or airport, for example) to avoid connecting to a spoofed or rogue hotspot created by the hacker.
Avoid Accessing Sensitive Platforms
With that said, your employees should not access email, storage, or internal systems using public Wi-Fi, unless they are connect by their VPN. The risk of loss is inherently reduced if all navigation on public Wi-Fi is unknown to the site website.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
2-factor authentication is the second most critical measure to take to protect your company’s business accounts. If a password is stolen, attackers cannot get into the company’s accounts if they cannot provide the second factor, whether it be mobile verification or biometric logins.