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You might be used to having an internet connection wherever you go. And not just cellular data: free internet is available at most restaurants, hotels, airports, and coffee shops.

Still, just because its available and free doesnt mean you should be using it. At least not without taking a few precautions. Unless, of course, you want a stranger to hack your smartphone and access all of your files.

Hacking into someones smartphone isnt as complex as you might think. One doesnt have to be a seasoned hacker, typing zeros and ones on a black screen from their basement. Nowadays, free software available online automates most of the work for them.

And while you might be thinking Im not a worthy target, hackers think the opposite. Since hacking is no longer especially hard or time-consuming, getting information from smartphones is profitable for many black-hat hackers.

Even if you dont have your bank information on your smartphone, your internet browsing data in itself is valuable.

So, how do they do it?

There are many ways hackers can infiltrate an open network and take advantage of peoples blind trust.

By far, the easiest way for cybercriminals to intercept your data isthrough an internet connection that they and their target are using. For example, that free Wi-Fi you just connected to.

Since most free Wi-Fi connections havepoor encryption, a hacker can exploit one of the weak points and access your smartphone or laptop. That way, they can see everything youre searching for and looking at, and possibly steal sensitive information that they could use against you later.

Another well-known method is when hackers impersonate a router, pretending to be a trustworthy network. If they succeed, they can reroute all of your internet traffic through their device and view it. It also lets them alter it, showing you things that arent actually on the website.

While that might seem like a harmless and funny prank to some people, hackers can use the same method to steal your passwords and personal and credit card information.

Even if you intentionally avoidsubmitting passwords or your credit card details while using an open network, hackers can still get your information. Now that they've got into your device, they can easily inject malware or spyware to collect your data wherever you go.

One place you might not expect an attack from is your homes network. After all, its password protected. But hackers have many ways of getting pastthese.

One way is using a brute-force attack: this involves specialized software trying countless combinations of passwords until they find the right one.

To protect against this, you password needs to be long, full of special characters, and frequently changed. Otherwise,you could easily fall victim to this type of attack. In fact, you're the ultimate target.

Another way they can get your password is by using social engineering. Yes, they can simply ask you for your password, andif theyre good enough and youre none the wiseryou might end up giving it out.

There's no need to swear off public Wi-Fi for good or abandon technology when it comes to finances and keeping private information. There are a few simple security measures you could implement today to stay safe online.

Here's how to protect your devices while using an open networkalthough these are good practices, no matter the type of internet connection!

If your device automatically connects to any open network you come in range of, thenyou need to disable it immediately.

Related: How to Prevent Your Devices From Auto-Connecting to Networks

If you don't, your smartphone could connect to a random network when youre walking down the street and you wouldnt even know.

One of the simplest things you could do is get a VPN and use it as often as possible. There are even free VPNs that are safe to use. That's particularly important when youre using an open network; if the router isnt properly encrypting your data, your VPN will.

Not to mention, most VPNs have a scan feature that sends out an alert when you encounter something malicious.Somealso offer a kill switch that disconnects you from the internet if your VPN app crashes. That ensures that youre never out there unprotected.

The only thing you need to do is toget into the habit of turning it onbefore you connect to the internet.

Ifyou find yourself needing to use public Wi-Fi but dont have access to a VPN, then its best to stick to HTTPS websites. Those websites tightly encrypt the traffic between the two of you. That makesdata much harder for a hacker to hijack.

Related: What Is a Website Security Certificate?

To make sure you always use secure websites, keep an eye out for the extra s in the URL or the padlock symbol that most browsers show. But if you want everything automated, there are browser extensions that notify you before you enter an unsecured website. Chrome browser does this automatically too.

If you do go into an unsecured website, dont download anything or input any passwords or private information.

If youre not very tech-savvy and think you might easily fall for a phishing scheme or download something harmful, get an antivirus for your smartphone. Antivirus software can detect incoming attacks and malware and intercept them for you. Itd also send you an alert, letting you know that what youre doing isnt safe.

Here's what you need to remember when it comes to online security: follow your instincts and stay skeptical.

Hackers are always on the lookout for new ways to hack devices and inject malware. You could be a victim to a method of attack that no one warned you about.

So, if youre on a website and something aboutjust doesn't feel right (like ifit looks old, has a lot of typos, or is insisting you sign up for something every 20 seconds), leave. You can visit it again with better security if youre still curious about it.

Image Credit: Bernard Hermant/Unsplash.

Is your internet connection secure? Here's what you need to know to stay safe and secure on any network you connect to.

Anina is a freelance technology and internet security writer at MakeUseOf. She started writing in cybersecurity 3 years ago in hopes of making it more accessible to the average person. Keen on learning new things and a huge astronomy nerd.

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How Easy Is It to Hack a Smartphone on an Open Network? - MakeUseOf