Introduction

Public Wi-Fi Security[What You Should Never Do on Hotel, Airport and Cafe Wi-Fi]: You arrive at an airport, hotel, café or coworking space, you see a Wi-Fi network available for free, and connect without thinking twice.

It takes only a few seconds.

But here is the question many people don’t ask:

Do you actually know who is operating that network or who might be watching the traffic passing through it?

Public Wi-Fi is convenient, but convenience should not mean ignoring basic online security.

And whether you are travelling, working remotely or just trying to save mobile data, there are a few things you should avoid doing whenever you’re connected to an unfamiliar network.

1. Don’t assume that a Wi-Fi network is safe because it has a familiar name

One of the easiest mistakes to make is connecting to a network simply because its name looks legitimate.

An attacker can create a network with a name that resembles a nearby hotel, airport, restaurant or cafe.

That is why you should verify the official Wi-Fi name and connection instructions with staff whenever possible.

A network being free doesn’t automatically make it trustworthy.

2. Avoid sensitive transactions on unfamiliar networks

Public Wi-Fi is not necessarily something you should panic about, but it is a good reason to be more cautious.

If you’re connected to an unfamiliar network, you have to think twice before performing highly sensitive activities such as accessing financial accounts or entering important personal information.

Whenever possible, use your mobile connection or another trusted network for sensitive transactions.