How to Stay Safe on Public WiFi

Public WiFi at coffee shops, airports, hotels, and libraries is convenient but comes with security risks. Unlike your home WiFi, public networks are shared with strangers — and on poorly secured networks, someone nearby could potentially see your internet activity.

Rules for safe public WiFi use: never do online banking or enter credit card numbers on public WiFi. Avoid logging in to sensitive accounts (banking, email, financial accounts). If you must, use your phone's cellular data instead of the public WiFi. Make sure websites use HTTPS (look for the padlock icon in the address bar) before entering any information.

Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for the best protection. A VPN encrypts all your internet traffic so no one on the network can see what you are doing. Reputable VPN services include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark ($3-13/month). Download the VPN app, sign in, and tap "Connect" before using public WiFi.

Beware of fake WiFi networks. Scammers set up networks with names like "Free Airport WiFi" or "Coffee Shop Guest" to trick you into connecting. Always confirm the exact network name with the business. If a coffee shop's WiFi is "CafeDowntown" and you also see "CafeDowntown-Free," the second one could be a scammer.

Additional precautions: turn off automatic WiFi connections (so your phone does not connect to unknown networks automatically), turn off file sharing and AirDrop in public, and forget the public network when you are done (Settings → WiFi → tap the network → "Forget This Network").