Hold enabled mobile Wi-fi at all times, even when mobile data is used and there is no network connection, it is a common practice. It does not matter if the smartphone is an Android or an Iphone, the truth is that this technology allows users of phones link their equipment to an internet routereither from home or from work.
However, What many people are unaware of is that the recommendation is not to keep the this feature all the time, even if the machine connects to a certain network automatically.
The reason is because active WiFi slowly consumes battery from your phoneYour best bet would be to turn it off to save a few minutes of power, since all of a sudden that extra time could help you at some point and extend your battery life.
Another reason, more harmful than the previous one, is that it could connect automatically to an open WiFi network on the street, such as public networks that are not securethe same ones that are normally used by computer criminals to steal your personal information or infect your device with some virus.
not only their social media accounts will be exposedbut also the bank cards and passwords that you have associated.
The reason is because there may be a cybercriminal connected to the network, with the intention of stealing the data and may even have supplanted that network with a fake one. This is what is known as network spoofing.
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So when you disable the function and arrive at a place with public Wi-Fi it would not connect automatically and your data would not be at risk.
Another recommendation is to add a good routine in which immediately after turning on the Wi-Fi, connect to a VPN (VPN is the acronym for Virtual Private Networko virtual private network) . In this way the dataThey will travel encrypted and will be safe from cybercriminals.
What to do to prevent connection to insecure networks
On Windows computers, in case you forget to have WiFi turned off, it might be a good idea to prevent it from automatically connecting. To do this, go to the Windows taskbar and click on the Wi-Fi icon.
Then you will see the available Wi-Fi networks and the one you are connected to tap on the Disconnect button.
By doing this, you increase security since the next time you are near that wireless network you will not be automatically connected and you will not go long without being unprotected without using a VPN.
Web pages you should not access when connected to a public WiFi network
- Avoid entering the banks website in which you have an account, and, if possible, do not consult your bank statements.
- Enter as little as possible into your social media.
This is because if a computer criminal is connected to the same WiFi network, they could intercept your conversations, read and modify the data you share on the device and the pages you access. Also, you should avoid sharing sensitive information.
Ideally, you should enter web pages that have HTTPS security encryption.