One of the main priorities for IT professionals in 2016 is securing Wi-Fi hotspots. The use of unsecured public Wi-Fi is notoriously risky. Cybercriminals spy on the activity taking place at WiFi hotspots, and it is at these Internet access points is where many man-in-the-middle attacks take place.
The Dangers of Unsecured WiFi
Preventing employees from using personally owned and work devices on unsecured Wi-Fi networks is a major challenge, but one that must be met in order to keep work networks free from malware.
When employees use smartphones, tablets, and laptops to connect to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, there is a high risk that those devices may be compromised. Hotspots are frequently used to deliver malware to unsuspecting website visitors, and malicious software can subsequently be transferred to work networks. With personally owned devices increasingly used for private and work purposes, the risk of a work network malware infection is particularly high.
The risks associated with unsecured Internet access points are well known, yet people still tend to still engage in risky behavior when accessing the Internet via these wireless networks. In a rush to take advantage of free Internet access, basic security best practices are all too often ignored. Devices are allowed to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots automatically and Wi-Fi hotspots are not checked to find out if they are genuine or have been spoofed.
Security Professionals Concerned About Employees’ Use of Unsecured WiFi Networks
A recent survey conducted by the Cloud Security Alliance indicates security professionals are very concerned about the use of unsecured WiFi networks. The Cloud Security Alliance is a collective of security professionals, businesses, and privacy and security organizations that are committed to raising awareness of cybersecurity best practices.
The organization recently conducted a survey and asked 210 security professionals their opinions on the top threats to mobile computing in 2016. 2010 member organizations were polled and more than 8 out of 10 respondents (81%) said that the threat from unsecured WiFi access points was very real, and was one of the biggest mobile security risks in 2016.
The Importance of Securing WiFi Hotspots
Many organizations that operate a network of Wi-Fi hotspots have yet to implement security measures to keep users of those networks secure. Those Wi-Fi access points are made available to customers in bars, restaurants, hotels, airport lounges, sporting venues, and on public transport such as busses and trains.
Guests are allowed to connect to those networks, yet little is done to police the activity that takes place over the network. Consequently, the door is left open for cybercriminals to conduct attacks.
Failing to provide even a basic level of security is a big mistake. If patrons suffer malware infections, data loss, identity theft, or other forms of fraud as a result of accessing the internet at a particular location, they are likely never to return.
With IT professionals now educating their staff members about the dangers of using unsecured WiFi access points, businesses that offer secure WiFi access are likely to attract far greater numbers of customers than those that do not.
There is a cost associated with securing WiFi hotspots of course. However, what must be considered is the amount of business that will be lost as a result of not securing WiFi hotspots. The cost of implementing security measures is likely to be much lower in the long run.
Securing WiFi Hotspots with WebTitan Cloud for WiFi
A business offering customers wireless Internet access used to have to purchase additional hardware or software in order to secure WiFi access points. Not only was there a cost associated with adding a security solution, implementing that solution was a complex task that required skilled staff and many man-hours.
Providing a secure browsing environment for customers would mean getting them to download software to the device used to access the Internet. That is hardly a practical solution for a bar or restaurant where quick and easy access to the internet is required by customers.
WebTitan offers a much easier solution that makes securing WiFi hotspots a quick and easy task. Since WebTitan Cloud for WiFi is a 100% cloud-based security solution, it requires no additional hardware and no software installations. Any user can connect to a WiFi network and benefit from a secure browsing environment, regardless of the device they use to connect.
Setting up a WiFi web filtering security solution is also fast and painless, and doesn’t require much in the way of technical expertise. Simply change the DNS settings and point them to WebTitan, and a secure browsing environment will be available to customers in a matter of minutes.
Websites known to contain malware can be easily blocked, users can be prevented from downloading files types frequently associated with malware, and web content can be filtered to stop users from engaging in questionable internet activity such as viewing pornography. Securing WiFi hotspots couldn’t be any easier.
If you are interested in securing WiFi hotspots run by your company, contact WebTitan today to find out just how easy and cost effective it can be to offer your clients a secure browsing environment.
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