Unlike many countries in the world, Vietnam is famous for the popularity of free WiFi networks. From coffee shops, airports, hospitals to walking streets, mobile users in Vietnam can easily access free Internet.
Recently, the India-based Electronics Hub website even ranked Vietnam's Noi Bai Airport as the 6th airport with the best WiFi service in the world, surpassing Changi Airport (Singapore) and Seoul Airport (South Korea).
The reason behind the popularity of free WiFi in Vietnam is the desire to enhance customer experience and attract tourists. This also contributes to the reputation of Vietnam as a “paradise” of free WiFi.
However, along with the convenience, there are also opinions warning about the negative aspects of free WiFi. This is in the context of concerns about information security because the places with free WiFi networks are all public places.
According to Mr. Ngo Tuan Anh - CEO of SCS Cyber Security Company (SafeGate), accessing the Internet in Vietnam is quite easy and convenient. However, this also leads to a careless and unguarded mentality of users when using free WiFi networks.
Along with the convenience and benefits, users may face some problems such as speed and data limits, having to watch ads and risks of being tracked.
Specifically, expert Ngo Tuan Anh said that due to the large number of users, free WiFi networks may have limited access speed and capacity, or be congested. This invisibly negatively affects users' Internet experience.
Some free WiFi hotspots also require users to log in via social media, or provide personal information to gain access, which can then be used for advertising purposes or to track users’ online behavior.
In addition, free WiFi users also face security issues. Hackers can easily spoof access points or use techniques to steal personal, financial or sensitive data from users. This poses many security risks that users cannot foresee.
Sharing a similar perspective, security expert Ngo Minh Hieu, founder of the Anti-Fraud project, said that free WiFi networks help people stay connected to the Internet, thereby facilitating communication and exchanging information quickly and effectively. Free access also brings Internet access to many people in difficult circumstances.
“ With access to the Internet anytime, anywhere without having to worry about buying a data SIM, Vietnam has also become an attractive destination for tourists. This will support business activities, especially in the tourism and service sectors ,” Mr. Hieu said.
However, according to the founder of the Anti-Phishing Project, public WiFi networks are not as secure as private WiFi networks. Bad guys can easily spoof WiFi access points, luring you to malicious websites or apps to steal personal information such as passwords, bank account information, and other personal data.
Faced with concerns about the security of free WiFi networks, expert Ngo Tuan Anh recommends that users should limit the use of public WiFi networks to access websites and applications containing sensitive information such as bank accounts, personal emails, credit card information, etc.
When connecting or using the network, users should be cautious. More importantly, they should always be aware of security, network safety and protection of personal data, especially sensitive information.
Users are also advised to always use 2-step security for social networking and banking accounts. For important connections, such as links to the company's internal network, Internet users need to use secure connection channels such as virtual private networks (VPN). This is the way for every Vietnamese Internet user to ensure safety when living in the "paradise" of free WiFi.
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