CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Leaving Wi-Fi on when you go out? Know its impact on privacy
New Delhi. Many smartphone users forget to turn off Wi-Fi when they leave home. When Wi-Fi remains on in a phone, it can search for available networks nearby and, in some situations, may also connect automatically to previously joined networks. This raises the question: can leaving Wi-Fi on put your personal information at risk? The answer depends on the phone’s settings, the security of the network and the user’s digital habits.
What happens when Wi-Fi stays on? When a phone’s Wi-Fi is switched on, it can use wireless signals to identify available networks and connect to known networks. This may slightly increase battery consumption, although the impact is generally limited in modern smartphones. Merely keeping Wi-Fi on does not mean your personal information is automatically reaching someone else. The risk can increase when the phone connects to an unsecured or fake network, or when the user shares information on a suspicious website or link.
Be careful while connecting to public Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi available at railway stations, malls, cafes, hotels and airports can be convenient, but the authenticity of a network cannot be confirmed only by looking at its name. Cybercriminals can sometimes create fake hotspots with names similar to genuine networks. Take extra care while doing banking, payments or other sensitive work on such networks. Check the correct website address, avoid automatically connecting to unknown networks and do not enter personal information on any suspicious pop-up or login page.
What is the impact on location and privacy? Wi-Fi networks can help services that identify nearby locations. However, merely keeping Wi-Fi on does not give every app access to your precise location or personal information. App permissions, the phone’s location settings and other technical arrangements are also important for this. Users can go to the phone settings and check which apps have been granted location permission. It may be useful to limit permission for apps that do not need location access.
Adopt these habits to stay safe. Wi-Fi can be switched off when it is not needed while leaving home. Check the phone’s automatic network connection settings and choose the option to forget or remove public networks that are not being used. Keep the operating system and apps updated regularly, and avoid sharing sensitive information on public Wi-Fi. Overall, leaving Wi-Fi on is not in itself a major security threat. But choosing secure networks, controlling app permissions and practising alert digital behaviour play an important role in protecting your privacy.
Hashtags: #ScienceTechnology #Bhopal #WiFi #SmartphonePrivacy #PublicWiFi #CyberSafety #Science #Technology #LocationPermissions #DigitalSecurity
