ESSAY FOR SBI PO - FREE WIFI AT PUBLIC PLACES

FREE WIFI AT PUBLIC PLACES

The smart city dream and facility of free wifi services is making everyone enthusiastic but we are yet to realize the potential threat of having free Wi-Fi at public places. Recenty, in Bengaluru airport a researcher armed with a device $100 walked in and confirmed fears of security risk associated with offering free Wi-Fi at public places. He easily hacked into the computers of hundreds of users who had connected to the airport's complimentary WiFi. And while he was at it, he also accessed the users' WhatsApp conversations, credit card numbers and encrypted user names and passwords for good measure. 

This casts a dark shadow over the government's plan to offer free WiFi in 2,500 cities and towns across the country. While the government is at it, some researchers have concluded that security is at higher threat with free Wi-Fi at public places. We wouldn't want to compromise with the security of our device which is most likely to contain confidential data which at wrong hands can spell havoc, and that too for a few bucks worth free Wi-Fi. But once you spot an open Wi-Fi, it is absolutely instinctive to instantly get your device connected. Let us review the pros and cons of the free wifi at public places.

Pros:

1. As private telecoms are practicing monopoly with net tariff plans not everyone can afford 3G and 4G connectivity. Thus free Wi-Fi would mean good savings of the common people. 

2. Students and youth can benefit largely from free public Wi-Fi. They can easily refer to e-books and online learning methods. With distance learning becoming popular in India, cost of data has always posed a problem. Broadband compromises speed and 3G/4G is priced beyond affordability.

3. In emergency situations free Wi-Fi can work wonders. Earthquake in Nepal and adjoining areas of India recently left people short of communication measures to check on near and dear ones. While mobile phone and network connectivity was a lost cause for days altogether in many areas, it was a long spell of apprehensions for people trying to get in touch with their loved ones.

4. Internet has opened various ways in which people can develop their skills and businesses..

Cons:

1. Crores would be spent on building of infrastructures and further in managing the cost of free Wi-Fi to the entire city or town. A larger part of the annual budget would be spent in this project and as the trend in India goes, there would be more scams from the executives involved.

2. Lot of people using free public Wi-Fi would eventually result in slowing down of data speed or limiting the data usage per device in a day or month. Where is the advantage in accessing free Wi-Fi when the speed is down to 2G?

4. Sharing confidential data over the internet would become risky and internet users can unknowingly become victims to hackers accessing their accounts.

5. Even if measures are taken to keep public Wi-Fi secure, hackers will find the way out to create fake hotspots to steal information.

Conclusion:

While there are ways to fix security bugs, there is no way for users to tell if they are the target of snooping. At an average end-user level, it is very difficult to detect such scenarios. However, one must understand that anything that goes into the Internet is subject to snooping and other forms of attacks. The user should be vigilant while accessing and sending sensitive data over such mediums.

At the same time the government should consider that there are definite cons of providing free Wi-Fi in cities and measures should be taken to provide complete security over public Wi-Fi. No loopholes should be left from wherein snooping could be possible. Awareness should be created especially in not so developed towns about ways to ensure security and confidentiality. Speed regulation should also be kept in mind before taking the major step. With these precautionary measures well implemented, India can benefit largely from free Wi-Fi in cities.