Free Wi-Fi at a coffee shop, airport, hotel or shopping centre can be incredibly convenient. But connecting to a public network can also expose your information if you are not careful.
Not every public Wi-Fi network is dangerous, but you should treat unfamiliar networks as untrusted connections.
Here are five things you should avoid doing.
1. Don't access your banking account
Avoid logging into your banking app or online banking through an unfamiliar public Wi-Fi network.
Even though modern banking websites and apps use encryption, using sensitive services on an untrusted network adds unnecessary risk.
If you urgently need to access your bank, use your mobile data instead.
2. Don't enter sensitive passwords
Public Wi-Fi isn't the place to change important passwords or log into accounts containing highly sensitive information.
This includes your:
- Online banking
- Work accounts
- Cloud storage
- Government services
If you have no alternative, make sure the website uses HTTPS and enable two-factor authentication on important accounts.
3. Don't shop or enter card details
Avoid entering your credit or debit card information while connected to an unfamiliar public network.
If you need to make a purchase, switching to your mobile connection is a safer option.
Also remember that a website being secure doesn't automatically mean the Wi-Fi network itself is trustworthy.
4. Don't connect to networks you can't identify
A common trick is creating a Wi-Fi hotspot with a name that looks legitimate.
For example, you might see:
“Airport Free WiFi”
and
“Airport_Free_WiFi_5G”
You may have no way of knowing which one actually belongs to the airport.
Before connecting, ask the business for the official Wi-Fi network name and password, if one is provided.
5. Don't leave file sharing switched on
Your laptop or phone may have features that allow devices on the same network to discover or communicate with each other.
On public Wi-Fi, this can create unnecessary exposure.
Turn off network discovery and file sharing when you're using an unfamiliar network. On laptops, selecting “Public network” when prompted can also help apply more restrictive security settings.
What should you do instead?
If you regularly use public Wi-Fi, consider these simple precautions:
Use mobile data for sensitive activities.
Turn off automatic Wi-Fi connections.
Use a VPN from a reputable provider when appropriate.
Keep your phone, browser and computer updated.
Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts.
And when you finish using public Wi-Fi, disconnect from the network rather than leaving your device connected indefinitely.
The bottom line
Public Wi-Fi isn't automatically unsafe, but you shouldn't treat it like your home network.
If you're connected to a network you don't control, think twice before entering passwords, financial information or other sensitive data.
A few seconds spent switching to mobile data could save you a much bigger headache later.
This article is for general information and does not constitute cybersecurity advice for a specific situation.
