Using campus and public Wi-Fi safely

Campus, coffee shop and library networks let you work almost anywhere, and a few habits keep your accounts safe while you use them. Choosing the right campus network, recognizing a fake hotspot, and saving sensitive tasks for a trusted connection cover the main risks.

Choose the right campus network

Most colleges run a secured network that you join with your school username and password, plus an open guest network for visitors. The secured network encrypts traffic between your device and the access point, so it is the one to use for classes and coursework. Your IT help desk publishes setup steps, which often include checking a certificate name when you first connect.

Accepting an unexpected certificate warning can send your password to the wrong place. If a warning appears, stop and compare it with the help desk's instructions before going any further.

How fake hotspots work

Anyone can set up a hotspot with a name that looks official, such as a copy of a coffee shop or campus network name. Devices set to join known networks automatically may connect without asking. Once you are on, the person running it can see unencrypted traffic and may show a fake sign-in page.

Turning off automatic joining for open networks, and removing networks you no longer use, closes off much of that risk. Ask staff for the exact network name rather than picking the strongest signal.

On a new network

• Confirm the exact network name with staff
• Look for the padlock beside the address
• Turn off automatic joining for open networks
• Use the school VPN for sensitive tasks

Habits for shared connections

Check that each website shows the padlock beside its address, which means the connection to that site is encrypted. Turn off file sharing and printer sharing when you leave home, and keep your operating system and browser updated.

Many schools provide a virtual private network, or VPN, for students, which encrypts everything you send while you are off campus. It also reaches library databases and campus services that only work from the school network. The IT help desk can tell you whether one is offered and how to install it.

Save sensitive tasks for a trusted connection

Banking, aid forms and anything that asks for your Social Security number are better done on your secured campus network, your home connection, or your phone's own hotspot. A phone hotspot uses your data plan, but it is under your control. If an open network is the only choice for one of these tasks, turn on the school's VPN first.

After using a shared computer in a lab or library, sign out of every site and close the browser completely. Decline any offer from a public machine to remember your password.