Why shouldn't you connect to the Metro's free WiFi? We explain

The Government of Mexico City decided to offer free Internet to passengers who use public transport in their day to day, a situation that was really necessary to facilitate many of the actions we perform on our mobile devices.

However, public networks or open WiFi could always lead to many problems or, rather, risks to your privacy or computer security.

Therefore, it is necessary to understand some of the reasons why you should not connect to the free WiFi of the CDMX, or any other network that is open.

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That there are no authentication requirements, complicates everything

The fact that there is no authentication as such facilitates access to cybercriminals, so what could be attractive to consumers, so will it be for hackers. While providers may believe they are providing valuable service, security is likely to be non-existent.

According to Norton, one of the most common threats in these networks is called Man-in-the-Middle, a form of espionage in which vulnerabilities can allow an attacker to read the data that is sent once a device is connected to the public network. That is, what you thought was private is no longer.

There is no sure way to know if the connection is encrypted

As we have discussed above, encryption implies that only the sender and the receiver, in a communication system, have the possibility to read the messages or information that is being sent.

This means that, in theory, there should be a secret code that cannot be deciphered. However, most routers arrive from the factory with encryption disabled by default and must be activated when the network is configured.

The problem is that a telecommunications professional should enable this option, but, in a public network, there is no way to know or be sure about it.

Malware propagation

There is no certainty that open networks are receiving maintenance, so the chances of being exposed to a possible virus or malware are very high.

your operating system could have some vulnerability that could well be exploited by attackers to inject malware, situation that would boost the theft of your personal information, the alteration of the basic functions of your device or the theft of money.

What could you avoid to connect securely in an open network?

If there is something we must understand when connecting to an open network or free Wi-Fi, is that We are not at home to do all kinds of movements with our mobile device or computer

That is, try not to make any type of banking movement or transaction that could put your resources or money at risk. Nor do you open any type of platform on which sensitive information circulates that may leave your integrity or privacy vulnerable.

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Not everything is lost

We understand the need for an Internet connection, so if you have an emergency, you can connect, but always try to have a VPN to encrypt your connection.

Similarly, verify that public networks are verified (not only with those of the subway, but in general). To learn more about how to navigate safely, you can check this article.