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This is the first “Ask the Expert” column in which Private WiFi CEO and computer security expert Kent Lawson responds to readers’ questions. This column will be an ongoing, monthly series, and this inaugural column discusses VPNs and their importance in staying protected online.
You think you’re safe within the walls of your hotel room, but the minute you log on to the Internet you are potentially exposing yourself to privacy violations, identity theft, and a host of other cybercrimes you can’t even see happening. In this latest monthly installment of Ask the Expert, CEO Kent Lawson focuses on staying safe when you’re browsing online in your hotel room and the real reasons why a hotel cable connection is no safer than its WiFi connection. Ultimately, he says, the only way to protect yourself in hotels, whether using WiFi or a cable connection, is to use a virtual private network.
Many of us assume that using a WiFi network at a hotel or airport is the same as logging into our network at home or at the office. But the risks of using WiFi networks at a hotel or airport are exponentially greater than those experienced at home or at work. This white paper outlines some of the risks and steps you can take to help protect yourself against them.
Being the CEO of Private WiFi means I’m on the road a lot, which also means that I’m constantly staying...
Earlier this year, the Harvard Business Review published a story about the hidden dangers of public WiFi networks and urged...
You may have heard about New York City’s new plan to turn old phone booths into public WiFi hotspots. This...
Have you been in an airport lately? While some people travel for leisure to escape always being “connected”, there are others who find it necessary to stay in touch. Here are some recommendations for keeping your personal information safe while on the road.
The next time you to connect to Facebook on an open hotspot, take a second to think about your security. What was intended as a quick log on to update your status or check your account, may have perilous consequence. You may not realize it, but Facebook users logging on through a public wireless connection are vulnerable.
You never want to share sensitive information like online banking accounts or credit card portals over unsecured public web connections, but the truth is online dating profiles can often contain just as much data as either of those. In fact, your online dating profile—if falling into the hands of a hacker—can cause far more personal safety problems than your banking data. After all, with online banking a thief just gains access to your checking account; with online dating data, a criminal could gain access to your home address, your workplace, any children’s or family members’ names, and more.
Kent Lawson, Founder and CEO of Private WiFi, talks about what inspired him to start the company. This is the first in a series of weekly CEO blog posts on this and other topics.
It’s that time of year again – when more than 150,000 gadget geeks, techies and businesses from around the world descend on Las Vegas for the mother of all trade shows – the International Consumer Electronics Show. With over 3,200 exhibitors previewing and showcasing their high tech products, CES is the perfect place for tech enthusiasts to network. So you’d think it would be safe for attendees to connect their laptops and mobile devices to the event’s public WiFi hotspot. But you’d be wrong. Like most big events, CES can be a hot spot for hackers. If you’re going to be there, make sure you don’t become a target.
Two University of Maryland professors, David Maimon, an expert in online criminal behavior, and Jonathan Katz, the Maryland Cybersecurity Center director, recently received a $200,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study how people access and use public WiFi hotspots.
Find out what the duo plans to do with the funds — including looking into why some users may be assuming that it’s safe to access sensitive information on public WiFi hotspots at “upscale” places.
