Campus Wi-Fi is free (usually), convenient, and easily accessible, but is it safe?
Using campus Wi-Fi can expose you to common cybersecurity threats like ransomware and data theft. You can use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet connection.
But what is VPN encryption going to do to protect your data? A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel from your device to the internet to scramble your personal data. Enabling a VPN on your laptop and phone can keep your information private and help prevent security issues.
What is Encryption and How Does It Work?
Encryption is the process that scrambles your online data so no one else can read or use it. A VPN establishes an encrypted connection to turn your data into unreadable text until the VPN server unscrambles it. Hackers and other unauthorized users cannot read your data while it passes between your device and the VPN server.
Public Wi-Fi networks are often less secure than private, password-protected ones. Say you submit an assignment on campus Wi-Fi in your dorm or the library. The campus Wi-Fi may be open: anyone on-site can use it without a password.
Cybercriminals could monitor your activities and steal your data. They can use stolen data for fraud, such as opening accounts in your name or making unauthorized purchases.
One scammer combined his own personal details with stolen student information in fraudulent financial aid applications at Texas colleges and universities.
Even if you need a Wi-Fi password, other users with access to the same network may still steal your data. Your assignment and any data associated with it could be taken by anyone sharing the network, not just the intended recipient.
Why Should You Use Encryption on Campus Wi-Fi?
Encrypting your connection will help you stay safe from several common online risks.
Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks
During an MITM attack, a cybercriminal places themselves between you and a website you plan to visit. It’s hard to tell that your connection is different from usual.
Imagine you visit a website to research an assignment, but the information you need is behind a paywall. You enter your payment details, such as your credit card data, to unlock the content.
But instead of going straight to the website, your information passes through the attacker’s system first.
Cybercriminals may use your details to make purchases and fund illegal activities. You may not realize that anyone else has accessed your credit card information until you notice unauthorized charges. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 48% of Americans have had card details stolen by online hackers.
How does a VPN help?
VPN encryption can help you avoid MITM attacks by scrambling your data into code that attackers can’t read before it reaches the website’s server. Anyone who places themselves between you and a website will be unable to decrypt the information.
With encryption on, your sign-up details and payment info stay hidden while you’re on campus Wi-Fi.
Browser Snooping
In browser snooping, someone monitors your online activities without permission.
Without encryption, anyone else on the same network can read the information you send and receive. Cybercriminals may hack into a college’s Wi-Fi network to intercept data from student devices.
Sending emails, logging into social media accounts, and other activities can put your privacy and money at risk. Criminals could get your student ID number, login credentials, and other personal data.
How does a VPN help?
Encrypting your connection with a VPN will keep your data private across all online activities. The information you put into websites will stay encrypted and unreadable to unauthorized snoopers.
IP Address and Location Tracking
Websites can pinpoint your location based on your Internet Protocol (IP) address. The IP address is a unique number given to any online device to identify it.
Websites use IP addresses and location information to track your activities. Website owners may sell your data to advertisers and use it for targeted promotions.
But cybercriminals can use your IP address to find your approximate location and target you with local scams. Hackers may find a way to access your personal devices after learning your IP address, too.
How does a VPN help?
A VPN will hide your real IP address from websites and hackers. Anyone trying to track you will see the VPN server’s IP address instead.
As you browse websites on campus Wi-Fi, VPN encryption will keep your real location secret. Keep in mind that signing in to your accounts can still reveal your details and location, even with a VPN on.
Staying Safe on Campus Wi-Fi
Protecting your data on campus Wi-Fi networks may prevent you from being targeted by cybercriminals and fraudsters. VPN encryption helps keep others from viewing your information while you’re online.
Before you enroll, check what security measures a college has in place. Find out how it responds to threats and keeps students safe. Build your own cybersecurity habits now: turn on a VPN before you connect to campus Wi-Fi.