BE WARY OF PUBLIC WI-FI
That wireless hotspot at the local coffee shop is convenient, but it’s also a prime spot for hackers to gain access and plant malware, or even steal data to see whether there’s anything useful. Verify that networks are legit before connecting, and make sure computer and smartphone settings don’t let them connect to unknown networks without permission. But the easiest way to stay safe is not to do anything remotely sensitive over public Wi-Fi, including banking and online shopping — and maybe even using social networks and email. If that seems impossible, experts recommend using a virtual private network. Some VPN data encryption services are free, although they may be ad-supported or limit the amount of data that can be used.