Any user with a contracted mobile data rate can share it with others as if it were a WiFi signal today. All they have to do is activate the portable or personal hotspot. This function is very useful on certain occasions, but it is advisable to know the risks that exist when doing so and be careful.
When we don’t have a private WiFi connection and we don’t want to use public networks, we usually turn to that friend or family member with unlimited data or many GB per month. The person in question only has to go to the settings of their smartphone, look for the section called “Portable access point” or “Personal access point” and activate it. Afterwards, it will be enough for the rest to connect as if it were a normal network, adding the password that they dictate.
However, if you are the one sharing the data, there are certain things you should pay attention to. Either for security or to avoid excessive consumption of gigabytes or the Internet going slower. In this article, we tell you everything you should pay attention to if you are normally in charge of transferring data on long trips.
Safety hazards
When activating a phone’s access point, not only acquaintances with whom we want to share data see the generated WiFi signal. Also all the people who are nearby and are looking for a network to connect to will see it. This wouldn’t have to be a problem if it weren’t for the fact that not everyone has good intentions.
This function can expose us to attacks from cybercriminals who are close to us. Luckily, there are ways to avoid this. Although depending on the mobile phone you have, the settings may change, there are models that allow you to set a limit on connected devices. This way, you can control that only your friends use your data and no strangers access it.
In addition, it is advisable to change the password that comes by default. As with the router, the preset key is usually not the best. But it is also not advisable to add one that follows common patterns, such as 123456789 or qwer1234, or words or numbers that have meaning for us.
The ideal is to use random numbers, letters and symbols and try not to say them out loud. To prevent others from hearing the password, you can show your smartphone screen to your acquaintances one by one, so that they can connect.
Higher data consumption
Another risk of sharing data through a hotspot is the possibility of running out of data soon. If you have an unlimited GB tariff, you may not be afraid of this, but if you have 30 gigabytes per month, you are not saved from running out of data.
If your friends are trustworthy, ask them to control excessive spending. To avoid running out of data, you should avoid downloading large files, watching streaming videos or making video calls, for example.
But, if you see that they don’t pay attention, don’t worry, you can ‘turn off the tap’ at any time. You will only have to deactivate the access point. There are mobile phones that even allow you to set a usage limit and, when a certain number of gigabytes is reached, it is disabled on its own.
Let’s assume that you have 30 GB with your rate and your friends ask you to share data. Depending on your phone’s configuration, you can have it deactivate the function when you spend 15 GB. This will ensure that you have enough data for the rest of the month.
Lower Internet speed
Even if you pay attention to ensuring that no one outside your group of friends uses the data and avoid excessive consumption, there is another reason why you should think twice before activating the hotspot: browsing speed. If you share your GB with many people or they use multiple devices, network performance drops and the connection experience is slower.
The only solution to this situation is to limit the number of devices that connect through your data. For example, if someone has enough GB, no matter how few, it is preferable that they use theirs instead of using your access point. It is also advisable that if a device is not being used, it should be disconnected from the portable network.
