Meta: Are you worried about the risk of leaking information via Bluetooth connection? Check out this article to protect yourself in the technological era!
We live in the technological era, which means bulking of modern technological devices and applications created to enhance life quality. Wireless technology, discovered in the mid and late 19th century, is one of the most outstanding technologies. In reality, we use many technology-based devices daily.
However, everything has its advantages and disadvantages, and so does wireless technology. Although it brings huge benefits, such as convenience and portability, it has drawbacks. They can be hacker attacks, personal information leakage, etc.
Therefore, this article presents the basics of wireless technology and possible methods to help you avoid undesirable incidents.
What Does It Mean Wireless Technology?
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Firstly, we start to find out the definition of this term. As its name implies, wireless technology mentions technology allowing interactions and communications between entities and devices without wires or cables. Today, many devices, applications, or systems have been developed with this technology. Therefore, when speaking of wireless technology, it also means without-wire-devices to many people. So, in general, this technology helps people or entities communicate and interact with each other from a significant distance.
Its working principle is based on radio waves. Wireless technology consists of RF (Radio Frequency) and IR (Infrared) waves.
What Are Types Of Wireless Networks?
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A wireless network is developed based on the technology mentioned above. As its name suggests, wireless networks refer to computer networks linking network nodes using Radio Frequency (RF). Wireless networking is a common and effective application for households, companies, and telecommunications.
There are four types of wireless networks listed below.
WLAN
Wireless Local Area Network is a popular solution for homes, offices, restaurants, and stores. It offers access between many components within a limited coverage area. For instance, Wi-Fi is the most famous WLAN.
Compared to workplace networks, household networks are typically simpler. To give a wide coverage, large offices need multiple access points.
WMAN
WMAN stands for Wireless Metropolitan Area Network. The WMAN aims to provide a larger access network for people within a city, college, or campus. In other words, it’s used for regional areas, which aren’t within single sites like stores, homes, etc.
The principle of this kind is the same as the previously mentioned. The main difference between WMAN and WLAN is the coverage size.
WPAN
WPAN stands for Wireless Personal Area Network, which refers to the network around a person. This kind of network has a limited distance for access. If the computers or other devices are out of this accessible distance, they cannot connect to each other. Bluetooth connection is an outstanding example of WPAN. You may find that earbuds or keyboards cannot be used when they are out of access distance.
WWAN
The Wireless Wide Area Network offers a huge access area. This type is used when the connectivity is outside the coverage of WLAN and WMAN. For example, it can cover a whole country. One of the most noticeable WWANs is the Internet. Lots of people from around the world can connect through the Internet.
How Can You Protect Your Information When Using Wireless Technology?
When many people and devices can interact and communicate, the risks of information leakage, hacker attacks, virus infection, etc., are possible.
As a result, there are certain ways to prevent those above dangerous situations. If the things mentioned below are feasible to your conditions, equipment, or devices, you should take action to protect yourself.
Keep Your Network Invisible
If no one recognizes your network, your devices may not be the victim of network attacks. As a result, you should consult the user’s manual of access points for instructions on how to disable identifier broadcasting. As a result, your connection is private, invisible, and untraceable.
Update The Administrator Password
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Sometimes, the devices’ passwords are predictable as they have defaulted from manufacturers. It’s necessary to change the password. It can prevent unauthorized access and enhances security for our devices, files, etc.
You should set a password with different and special characters without implying personal info. If doing so, it’s more difficult for people to guess.
Make The Network Traffic Encrypted
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You need to encrypt the traffic going between the wireless devices. This step aims to secure your data. Encrypting traffic converts it into a code only decoded by computers with the precise key.
Keep Your Personal Info Private
This is one of the most basic principles to protect yourself in the modern world. Everything today is digitalized. A piece of personal info leaked can lead to many undesirable problems. For example, the Social Security Number relates to most financial and tax documents. If scammers know this information, they may make use of it.
Prevent Unauthorized Accesses
Hacking can happen when network access and an unsecured file are combined. Therefore, uninstalling programs that compromise personal data’s security is a good idea. Besides, when some programs ask permission to access certain files on your laptops, PCs, or phones, you should give them a big no.
Using VPN Applications
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VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, which aims to encrypt users’ internet traffic and disguise the user’s online identity. This is mostly used in many companies, organizations, etc.
As a result, these VPN applications would enhance security through encryption, data transmission protection, etc. In other words, VPN encrypts the in and out ends of data transmission while filtering potential harmful traffic.
Only Connect To Secure Websites
You should only access websites that are safe, trustworthy, and legit. In most cases, the chain HTTPS at the beginning of the websites is a sign of a secure connection. However, it’s not totally true in any circumstance. Sometimes, scammers also add that chain to their websites.
Pay Attention To File Sharing
File sharing is a convenient option for many of us. However, it can bring certain damage. Someone can steal your personal files, which you don’t intend to share. If the option of file sharing always goes on, there is a way for others to access it.
Be careful with this option. Whenever you need to share files with your colleagues or friends, you should set a password to these files. Moreover, when uploading files on websites, please pay attention to their security and reputation. Remember to turn off this option if you’re done with sharing the files.
Change Name Of Your Network
If you’re in public places, renaming the access point name is a reasonable step. The manufacturers name most devices. However, these defaulted names are easily understood and recognized, which can gain other unauthorized access, increasing potential risks. So, renaming your access point’s default name is not a bad idea. Let’s choose the one that it’s hard to guess.
Be Aware Of Public WiFi Connections
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Indeed, the host providing free Wi-Fi in public places such as hospitals, hotels, or airports can know your data traffic. In many cases, they can see your traffic although you’re accessing an HTTPS website that is already encrypted. We suggest that you should only use public WiFi connections in urgent situations. If not, users’ data collecting from hosts is unavoidable.
Bring Hotspot Software Up To Date
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Manufacturers of devices and applications mostly research and develop their products. As a result, there are versions to update your software’s devices to enhance security, user experience, or fix bugs. It’s important to update the latest versions or patches from manufacturers. It can help improve technological errors or security faults.
Notice The Warnings
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Today, many browsers can recognize and show a warning notification whenever you want to access scam-potential websites. Moreover, those browsers can ask for your confirmation when you click to download evil-intentioned or harmful files and programs. As a smart user, you should notice these warnings as they can immediately be a source of virus infection, damaging your laptops, PCs, and cell phones.
Install Security Softwares Or Browser Add-Ons
There is much software developed to encrypt, detect, and secure the connection. You may know about anti-virus programs, such as Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, McAfee Internet Security, etc., helping a computer detect and remove virus files. In addition, firewall software is also an ideal option.
Some browsers have add-ons to support the security problems. For example, the HTTPS-Everywhere is an add-on that forces the browser’s encryption to work on weak websites.
Avoid Links, Files, and Programs Attached From The Unknown
There are many ways that hackers can approach you. Links, files, or programs from the unknown are one of the most common approaches. So, be wise when clicking to open these things. Strangers can send you these things through emails or simply a pop-up notification on a website. These can be sources of viruses or connectivity between clicker and hacker. No one knows what they want to do with our laptops, cellphones, emails, etc.
Therefore, pay a lot of attention to those potentially harmful materials. You can click the report button for the email that seems dangerous.
Log Out Accounts After Using
This suggestion seems normal but effective. When finishing your tasks, you should log out of the accounts from websites. Sometimes, hackers can gain access to your devices. And if your accounts still log in, they can steal the information from both your devices and accounts.
For instance, you don’t want someone to access your email account. It may contain lots of personal info, related-work documents, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Use Public WiFi Connections?
It depends on your situation. If you have the options between private and public networks, we recommend using the private one. It has an advantageous point on security.
In other cases, you rush to submit your homework online or join a company meeting. But the home Wi-Fi is unavailable. So, you may use public WiFi connections, although it poses a higher security risk. For example, the Wi-Fi provider can know your browser’s history or the apps used. Besides, you may have no idea who is connecting to it. It is said that Wi-Fi hosts can track the traffic even though you’re in incognito mode.
What Happens If I Always Leave Bluetooth On?
If you are a person who always has Bluetooth on, you should change your habit. The on status of Bluetooth can let hackers gain connection.
In reverse, hackers trying to attack your system through Bluetooth cannot see or connect your devices when it is turned off. This is the most secure method to prevent an attack. Making it into a routine to always turn off Bluetooth when not in use is a good strategy.
This task is not feasible for some people as they use Bluetooth connection daily and most devices. However, many apps can support you if you have lots of work or trouble remembering to turn it off.
Can Hackers Attack My Phone Via Bluetooth Connection?
Yes. Hackers can connect and gain other information from your phone via Bluetooth. Bluetooth is one of the most common targeted ways by hackers.
Hackers may try to make a connection between your appliances and hackers’ devices via Bluetooth. In this way, they can covertly deliver dangerous materials, including texts, images, videos, and hundreds of other formats, to our smartphones, laptops, PCs, or tablets. Later, they can have a link to access our phone via designed malicious files sent. Eventually, they can take further actions, such as collecting personal info.
Conclusion
In conclusion, technological development and inventions have greatly enhanced our lives. Wireless technology, such as WiFi connections, contributes to this revolution. However, it still needs a lot of improvements to remove the drawbacks. When using the wireless network, it’s vital to perform basic principles, including encrypting, securing, paying attention to signs, preventing harmful sources, etc.
We hope that after reading this post, you can know How Can You Protect Your Information When Using Wireless Technology. From there, you can prevent cyber attacks, information leakage, and hacks in this digitalized era.