Most people don't think about the security of their information when they're browsing the internet. They think that if there's a little lock at the top of their browser page, then their information is safe to enter into a mortgage calculator in Toronto. But the fact of the matter is, it's not just the security at their end that you should be worried about. It's possible for hackers to access your information from your end of the transaction too, especially if you're using a wireless connection. Here's an overview of some of the security risks associated with wireless networks and how you can surf safer.
Wireless networks function by transmitting data through the air on electromagnetic waves, which means any device compatible device can send and receive information on this network when they're within range. Wireless networks are actually quite large these days, so that people sitting in their kitchens in Hamilton, Ontario may actually receive signals from five or six of their neighbors' networks on their laptop in addition to the signals from their own network.
Living in a condo, Toronto's myriad of downtown wireless networks will all be available to you, which means that yours is also available to them. To keep people from accessing it, password protect your wireless router. That way, any users who don't know the password will not be able to access your internet. Some routers come automatically password protected, but the vast majority transmit free and clear until you tell them to do otherwise. Even if your router came with a password, you should change it because other routers may have come with the same password, so it's hardly secret.
If you fail to secure your wireless network, anyone with a laptop can use your internet if they're in range. They might just nip onto the internet for a few minutes to search for the phone number of a wedding caterer in Toronto, but they could also eat up your bandwidth uploading and downloading songs and videos, or worse, steal your I.P. address and either commit illegal activities that will be traced back to you or cause mischief among your circle of acquaintances by posing as you.
Unsecured wireless networks also make it easy for people who want to steal information from you, whether it's your latest plan for internet marketing in Toronto or your credit card number, to intercept your computer's transmissions on their way to the router. Therefore you should avoid logging into your online banking account or other sensitive sites when you're using a public wireless connection, such as the one at a library or a cafe. For maximum safety, plug your computer directly into the modem for these transactions.
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