“Don’t do your online banking or anything sensitive on a public Wi-Fi network.” The advice is out there, but why can using a public Wi-Fi network actually be dangerous? And wouldn’t online banking be secure, as it’s encrypted?

There are a few big problems with using a public Wi-Fi network. The open nature of the network allows for snooping, the network could be full of compromised machines, or — most worryingly — the hotspot itself could be malicious.

VPN to the Rescue

When using a network off-campus (hotel, coffee shop, airport, etc.), BAs virtual private network (VPN) creates a highly secure pathway directly back to our campus network. It enables users to send and receive data across the internet as if their laptops, tablets, or smartphones were directly connected to the BA campus network, and thus provides identical functionality and security of the campus network.

To connect to Brewster’s VPN, please contact the IT Department for instructions.