Public WiFi is a security risk.
As part of our Tech Tip series, let’s talk about public WiFi, and why they are typically unsafe.
What’s the risk?
Public Wi-Fi networks are often “open” or weakly secured. This means other people using the same network (or hackers nearby) can see what you send and receive online.
Attackers can use tricks like “man-in-the-middle” attacks to intercept or eavesdrop on your connection, potentially capturing passwords, messages, or other sensitive info.
Some hackers even set up fake hotspots (with innocent-sounding names) to trick people into joining. Once you’re connected, they can monitor your traffic or inject malware directly.
What to keep in mind
Treat public Wi-Fi like public property — it’s convenient, but not private.
Apps and websites may use encryption (that helps), but it’s still safer to assume the network is untrusted.
Using a VPN can help since traffic will be encrypted in transit over the public network, but you may need to enable a kill-switch which stops the computer from transmitting data if the VPN is disabled.
Travel often, or love working at that local cafe? Get a VPN with help from your friends at Common Computer.
