Multiple organizations and institutions have asked people to temporarily remove passwords from their WiFi after the strong earthquake that struck central Italy early Wednesday, leaving dozens dead.
The National Geological Association, Lazio region and the Red Cross have all appealed to locals to make their WiFi networks passwordless in order to facilitate mobile communication.
In the aftermath of a national disaster, lines are often clogged on account of people trying to check in on their relatives and friends.
Unblocked WiFi connections means that organizations involved in rescue operations and local institutions can easily access WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram and Skype.
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The Red Cross has even posted a quick guide on how to remove network passwords:
However, there are some security concerns linked to the open WiFi.
Data is potentially exposed to third parties, so it’s better to avoid accessing personal email or online banking during the temporary password removal.
At least 73 people died and hundreds more were injured after a 6.2-magnitude quake rattled central Italy early Wednesday.
