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Be Cyber Aware

Alert message sent 19/11/2020 15:20:00

Information sent on behalf of South Yorkshire Police

Publicly available Wi-Fi connections or 'hotspots' are great for accessing the internet when you are not at home or work. However, not all Wi-Fi connections are secure and cyber criminals who intercept your data can use them. If you connect to a publicly available Wi-Fi, you do not know who else is on the network. Your data could be intercepted.

SNIFFING
Be aware that if you log into your emails using an app, without typing in the password, the phone will send your password over the Wi-Fi and could be intercepted. If you use automated passwords and do not enter your user name and password manually, these details can still be intercepted.

EVIL ACCESS POINTS
Cyber criminals can set up their own Wi-Fi hotspots in an attempt to get you to connect with them. They broadcast a Wi-Fi connection, usually calling it something like 'free_wifi' or 'coffee_shop_wifi'. If you connect to this Wi-Fi, the criminal can capture any data you are sending.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Do not use public Wi-Fi for online banking, accessing e-mails or anything involving sensitive personal information. When doing this in public, use your 3G, 4G or 5G connection. Dataâ€™s passed over these connections is always encrypted.

Make sure you are connecting to a trusted Wi-Fi hotspot, operated by the venue you are at. Ask staff if you are in any doubt.

Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when connecting to public Wi-Fi. All your data will be encrypted and so if it is intercepted it will not be readable. VPNs can be downloaded onto devices as an app.

REMEMBER
NOT ALL WI-FI HOTSPOTS ARE SAFE

CAUTION
CYBER CRIMINALS CAN CAPTURE DATA ON AN INSECURE WI-FI NET WORK

THINK
DO I NEED TO USE A VPN OR SWITCH TO A 3G, 4G OR 5G CONNECTION?

Message sent by

Paul Cundy (South Yorkshire Police, PCSO, Sheffield City Centre )

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