WARNING! All Wi-Fi hotspots are not created equal

As cellular providers continue to put the clamps on unlimited data plans, people are looking more and more for free Wi-Fi hotspots, especially when outside their home.

But just because your smartphone or tablet indicates a Wi-Fi hotspot is available in your area doesn’t mean you should connect to it.

A popular trick amongst scammers is to create “fake” Wi-Fi hotspots with real sounding names in order to trick you to connect to their network. Once connected, they can easily store any private information (such as usernames, passwords or credit card numbers).

The solution? Only connect to Wi-Fi networks you know are 100% legitimate. If you are unsure, ask someone who works at the facility (ex: hotel or coffee shop) or don’t connect at all.