Shopping malls and public event venues are considered to have the most cyber threats
Almost 16% of American internet users avoid going online in public places and nearly 70% of Americans prefer their mobile internet for online activities in public, according to a survey conducted by NordVPN. Cybersecurity experts say that these measures help to mitigate cyberthreats, but issues raised by using public Wi-Fi can also be managed by other means.
Cyberthreat of shopping malls
In the new survey, most American internet users mentioned shopping malls (51%), public event venues (50%), and cafeterias, bars, or restaurants (49%) among the places where devices are exposed to cybersecurity threats the most. Home and workplace are mentioned as the safest places from cybersecurity threats with only 20% of respondents concerned about internet security and privacy in each location.
“Internet users should evaluate cybersecurity risks in every location because the scope of threats varies depending on a place. While universities or offices tend to put more effort into cybersecurity, it might not be the case with cafeterias and shopping malls,” says Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN.
Americans trust in themselves more than in technology
The survey reveals that Americans tend to rely more on their behavior online to protect themselves from cybersecurity threats in public places rather than technology. 45% of respondents claim that they avoid entering or accessing sensitive information when they are connected to public Wi-Fi. At the same time, 42% of respondents go only to safe websites, and 35% verify if the public Wi-Fi is legitimate before joining.
Regarding the usage of cybersecurity and privacy tools, the numbers are more modest. Only 27% of Americans use a VPN service, and 33% choose antivirus software. While a VPN is a more popular solution among younger generations, older generations tend to trust antivirus software.
“Cybersecurity literacy is important, and it is great that internet users avoid entering or accessing sensitive information, like banking accounts, clicking on pop-ups, or going to suspicious websites. But a human mistake is an important factor in cybersecurity and even experts do them, so technological solutions should complement human efforts to minimize risks,” says Briedis.
Canadians are the keenest users of Wi-Fi
In comparison, Canadians, the northern neighbors of the United States, use public Wi-Fi more frequently and less mobile internet than any other country that participated in the survey. Up to 43% of internet users in Canada use public Wi-Fi, and 60% use mobile internet. Almost 22% of Canadians do not use the internet in public at all.
Nevertheless, Canadians do not demonstrate exceptional use of cybersecurity and privacy software to protect their devices from cybersecurity threats: 19% of respondents said they use a VPN, and 36% use antivirus software.
How to stay secure on public Wi-Fi?
There are several simple precautions to stay secure on public Wi-Fi. Marijus Briedis, cybersecurity expert and CTO at NordVPN, advises taking these actions:
● Use a reliable antivirus. Users should choose an antivirus with advanced protection against malware, spyware, and viruses. An antivirus program will detect and neutralize malicious threats before they do any harm. For example, NordVPN’s Threat Protection feature neutralizes cyber threats, like malware-ridden files or malicious websites, before they can damage your device.
● Enable a firewall. A firewall protects the system by monitoring the network traffic and blocking suspicious connections. Users should have security settings and ensure the computer’s inbuilt firewall is running.
● Stay secure on public Wi-Fi using a VPN. Public Wi-Fi networks are highly vulnerable to hacking. Cybercriminals often target people at free hotspots and try to slip malware into their devices. Users should always use a VPN to secure their Wi-Fi connection and protect themselves from unwanted snoopers.
