☕ Cyber 105: Outsmarting Public Wi-Fi & Social Engineering
Avoiding Common Cyber Traps
Quick Summary:
💻 Public Wi-Fi isn’t always safe
🧠 Social engineering targets humans, not systems
🎯 Learn the red flags, tactics, and smart defences
🔐 No tech expertise needed—just awareness
☕ Why Public Wi-Fi Can Be Risky
You’re in your favourite café, connected to free Wi-Fi, sipping your latte. Seems harmless, right?
But public Wi-Fi is often unsecured—and that means hackers can:
👀 Spy on your activity (e.g., passwords, banking info)
🎭 Create fake networks like “Free_Coffee_WiFi”
📂 Access personal files if your device isn’t protected
✅ How to Use Public Wi-Fi Safely
🔐 Avoid logging into sensitive accounts (banking, work portals)
🧙 Use a VPN to encrypt your connection like a digital invisibility cloak
📵 Turn off auto-connect in device settings
📛 Verify the exact Wi-Fi name with a staff member before connecting
🧠 What Is Social Engineering?
It’s not about hacking machines—it’s about hacking people.
Cybercriminals manipulate you into giving away information like passwords or PINs through texts, emails, calls—or even in person.
It’s psychology, not code.
⚠️ Common Social Engineering Tactics
🎣 Phishing
Fake messages designed to steal login details.
Example: “Your Amazon account has been suspended – click here to fix it.”
🎭 Pretexting
An attacker pretends to be someone you trust (e.g., bank or IT support).
“Please confirm your login to complete the update.”
🎁 Baiting
A tempting “freebie” is really a trap.
A USB labelled “Employee Salaries” left lying around.
📞 Vishing & Smishing
Voice or text-based phishing.
“Urgent: Call us to confirm your account.”
🛡️ How to Spot the Red Flags
🚨 Too urgent? Pause. Pressure is a tactic.
🎁 Too good to be true? It is.
✉️ Weird sender address? Look closely. “paypaI.com” ≠ “paypal.com”.
❓ Requesting personal details? Legit companies never do this by email.
📝 Bad grammar or spelling? 🚩 Red flag.
🔒 Best Practices for Sharing Info Online
🤫 Think before you post—no birthdates, travel plans, or personal details on social media
🔐 Use strong, unique passwords
📲 Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
🔍 Verify links and sender addresses before clicking
🧠 When in doubt: don’t click, don’t reply, don’t panic
💡 Final Thought
You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to stay safe. You just need to be:
A little more curious
A little less reactive
A little more confident asking: “Is this real?”
Next time you're using public Wi-Fi or get a strange message—you’ll be ready.
🧭 The Cyber Compass — Helping You Navigate the Digital World Safely
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✒️ Until next time,
Heather Roache
Founder of The Cyber Compass
Protecting people, not just passwords.
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