All over the world the need for laptops and smartphones increases each year. Networks have been part of our life. Probably everyone with a portable device(移动设备) has once logged on to a public Wi-Fi network without paying for it, while they are having a coffee, on a train, in a shopping mall or at a hotel. However, is this kind of public Wi-Fi network safe?
Some networks are better protected than others because encryption (加密) methods are used. Therefore, they are safer than others. But a survey in 2015 showed that more than 950 million records were not protected, including addresses, emails, birth dates, phone numbers, passwords and so on. These open Wi-Fi networks are really not safe, because it is very easy for hackers (黑客) to break into the operating system and get people's private information.
Most smartphones and laptops, by themselves, search and connect to Wi-Fi networks. They usually prefer a network with a connection that has been used before. Hackers' devices are able to record these searches and look like the trusted Wi-Fi networks. When these smartphones and laptops log on to the networks which are not real, hackers can easily steal their private information.
So next time, when we want to use our laptops or our smartphones in public places which offer free Wi-Fi networks, please think it twice on take safe measures before using them.
