Mid-Atlantic Computer Solutions

With telecommuting making it easy to travel and stay in touch, people are using public Wifi networks more frequently. As the number of hotspots available continues to grow, not every hotspot can offer the protection of your home or office networks. The default settings on your notebook, tablet, or smartphone may not be enough to keep your data safe from prying eyes. These essential tips will help keep your information and files secure.

#1. Update your software before you go. Make sure all antivirus, antispyware, and browsing software are all updated. When current, the software can monitor for suspicious activity and can be a great way to protect against most attacks. Verify that the built in firewall is always activated.

#2. Turn off filesharing. Otherwise, anyone in the vicinity of your device can hack into your data.

#3. Use a VPN. A virtual private network routes your traffic through a secure network. Free services are available but a paid service guarantees the connection integrity. If you regularly connect on public networks, it may be worth the expense.

#4. Don't auto-connect. Turn off the Wifi connection whenever you're done using the internet, even if you're still using the device. Maintain it off until you're ready to connect. Check the settings on your device, you may be able to disable auto-connect, and request a prompt asking for permission to connect.

#5. Use secure sites whenever possible on public networks. Ultimately it's much safer to avoid private transactions on a public network. Conducting banking activities or purchases that require a credit card should always be completed over a private connection such as at home or in the office.

We hope these tips help keep your data safe while traveling. If you have more questions, give our team a call.

Mid-Atlantic Computer Solutions
(703) 236-5800
www.4macsolutions.com