Plan.Meet.Repeat January February 2019 Issue plan meet repeat jan feb 2019 | Page 12

There is even an app for Android phones called “Skimmer Scanner” that you can use to help verify the integrity of the location you are at and alert you if it detects any devices nearby. Next, you stop at coffee shop to grab a coffee. While you’re waiting, you decide to check your email. It only takes a few minutes, and there could be several other people in front of you and behind you as well as others sitting at tables. You don’t know who any of these people are – they could be other professionals like yourself, but there could also be a criminal. The coffee shop has free WiFi, so while you’re waiting, you connect to it, download your email and respond to a few messages before getting your coffee and heading back on the road. Little did you know that there was a hacker sitting there with their laptop, monitoring anyone who connected to the free WiFi. They use a program that intercepts your insecure traffic and inputs, and now they have your email user name and password. Just like that they now can log into your account, change your address, reset the passwords on your banking and investment accounts and siphon the money off into their own accounts. All of this can occur in just a few minutes, so never connect to insecure WiFi networks and conduct any type of transactions or do anything that requires you to log into any accounts. Using them for simple online searches or to read the news is fine, but I would strongly recommend against connecting to any open WiFi networks for any reason. Open networks are huge security risks. Get in the habit of not connecting to any WiFi network unless it is secure. You may opt to use a secure VPN (Virtual Private Network) to connect to your email or log remotely into your PC from your laptop, tablet or smartphone. Many companies use VPNs to help secure their corporate networks, but you can use a VPN even if you’re running a one-person company. 12 Plan Meet Repeat Magazine Jan/Feb 2019 They are not difficult to configure, so ask your local IT professional what it would take to set up one for your business. As long as your router supports VPN connections, they can be set up, configured and tested in about an hour. If your router does not support VPNs, you would have to replace it with one that does. These routers are not expensive and start at around $100, with better ones starting around $200. Be sure to pay attention to the people, places and objects around you always. If you are aware of your surroundings, potential security risks and not distracted by technology, you will be much safer and improve your personal safety and security – no matter where you are! That’s all for this article...next we’ll see what threats exist at the airport, the hotel and the convention center! Until next time…stay safe! Pete Canavan, Personal Safety Expert https://PeteCanavan.com LinkedIn: mrpete Twitter: @pjcpete YouTube: BestSuccessTraining