We may earn commissions when you buy from links on our site. Why you can trust us.

How to Protect Your Privacy on Public WiFi Networks

by Elizabeth Harper on June 25, 2024

So you're at your favorite coffee shop, hopping onto the free WiFi with your tablet to check your social networks, read the latest news, and maybe take a quick peek at your bank balance while enjoying your latte. We've become so accustomed to constant Internet access wherever we are that we often overlook the safety of logging into a public network.

Laptop is shown in use in an airport.

Over the last decade, Techlicious has tracked the dangers associated with using public WiFi, and while it's safer than it was ten years ago, there are still threats. We've identified three consistent ways free public hotspots can put you at risk. To keep you safe, we also recommend five simple measures to protect your privacy when using public WiFi.

The 3 big risks of free public WiFi

Using public WiFi is akin to having a conversation in a public place: without precautions, others can overhear you.

1. Exposure of personal information

While most websites today use encryption to scramble data during transmission, not all encrypt their entire site or every page element. For example, some may embed content from unencrypted external sources. Without precautions, your information could be transmitted over public WiFi in an unencrypted form, allowing someone on the same network to easily intercept and view your data, compromising your privacy.

2. Honeypot WiFi hotspots set up by thieves

A significant risk is connecting to a honeypot, a deceptive WiFi hotspot, often labeled innocuously like "Public WiFi." Thieves set these up to capture data from connected users. Simple to create with just a laptop or smartphone, these honeypots can be encountered anywhere.

3. Hackers hijack your connection to social media and other sites

Using public WiFi increases the risk of session hijacking and man-in-the-middle attacks. Hackers can hijack active sessions you have with online services, such as social media or email, by stealing browser cookies. These cookies help services recognize your identity, and once stolen, hackers can impersonate you. However, direct login and password details are typically not found in these cookies, as they usually contain only session-specific data.

5 ways to stay safe on public WiFi

1. Know your network

Before connecting to a public WiFi, confirm the network's legitimacy to avoid WiFi honeypots. If unsure about a network's name at a business, ask an employee. Additionally, adjust your device settings to prevent automatic connections to unfamiliar networks, ensuring you consciously choose the network you join.

2. Keep your connection secure

Always connect to websites via HTTPS, which encrypts data sent and received. HTTPS ensures secure communication with websites, indicated by "HTTPS" in the browser's address bar or a lock icon.

3. Use a VPN

When you use a VPN service, your personal information is encrypted, thwarting attempts at session hijacking and other man-in-the-middle attacks. Based on our own testing, we chose SurfShark as our Techlicious Top Pick for the Best VPN. It is fast, has all of the premium security features we recommend, will cover all of your devices, and it's affordable. We also like the free version of ProtonVPN if you're looking to protect just one device (just your laptop or just your phone).

4. Use two-factor authentication

Enable two-factor authentication on websites and apps where available. This requires a password plus a regularly changing secondary code, significantly increasing account security. Authy lists sites supporting two-factor authentication.

5. Disable file sharing

Ensure your computer isn't set to share files on public or guest networks. While convenient at home, file sharing poses risks on public WiFi.

To disable sharing:

Windows 10 and 11: Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings. Turn off file and printer sharing and network discovery and save changes.

Mac OS X: Go to System Preferences > Sharing and be sure that File Sharing is unchecked.

Updated on 6/25/2024 with current threat risks and solutions.

[Image credit: woman with laptop via BigStockPhoto.com]

Elizabeth Harper is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience covering consumer technology and entertainment. In addition to writing for Techlicious, she's Editorial Director of Blizzard Watch and is published on sites all over the web including Time, CBS, Engadget, The Daily Dot and DealNews.

Topics

Computers and Software, Computer Safety & Support, Tips & How-Tos, Privacy

Discussion

From Apri on March 06, 2015 :: 7:34 pm

Is it safe to assume that the relatively new Xfinity wifi (which is now practically everywhere) is also just as vulnerable as any other public wifi?

From Josh Kirschner on March 10, 2015 :: 9:20 am

The same risks would exist for Xfinity. And, given the network’s high profile across the country, it would be a prime target for honeypotting (creating fake Xfinity hotspots that are set up specifically to steal user information).

From Jettie Blevins on July 30, 2017 :: 5:59 am

I use my WiFi when I work from home and I live alone but when I check my internet for device’s I have as many as 13 different device’s on it which slows my network down to where it take’s me forever to get my work done. Is there a way to stop it from being a public hot spot an app or something? With the net work I have they charge me extra for all device’s over 10. So why am I paying for my internet service only to have the company make it a public WiFi hotspot? Thank you for your help I appreciate it.

From Karen H. on October 09, 2017 :: 1:31 pm

One of the best ways to secure your wife is to require a password to access the network. Search “Set a password on your wifi network” or contact your wifi provider and ask them. If your wifi is not password-protected, of course people are going to use it. You’re paying for it and they’re using it. It’s not hard to do but call if you can’t figure it out.

From Bazoonga on December 05, 2018 :: 8:10 pm

“How to Secure your wife”?

From Sadhendra Singh on October 07, 2017 :: 6:48 am

how can i secure my privacy under a unsecured wi-fi connection?

From D Smith on October 09, 2017 :: 2:02 pm

I was recently out of town and trying to use the hotel’s unsecured WiFi on my iPhone and iPad (to find some local restaurants and stores), and although I could connect to the hotel’s network, neither my iPhone nor my iPad would allow me to surf the web. I kept getting a message that the network was unsecured. Well… I knew that! I wasn’t about to do any banking or buying, but did what to do some finding. Is there some “safety” setting that Apple defaults on, that would prevent me from even using an unsecured network? I poked around a bit in my settings, but nothing presented itself.

From Suzanne Kantra on October 16, 2017 :: 2:03 pm

I’ve run into that as well. Did you get to the hotel page that lets you enter your info to access the web? If so, you need to “forget” the hotel network and reboot your phone. It will usually let you in then.

From D Smith on October 16, 2017 :: 2:30 pm

This particular circumstance was several weeks back, but as I recall, there was no hotel web page. My phone showed a valid connection, but the web was nowhere to be found.

It just seemed odd, but it obviously didn’t bother me enough to take the trouble to call the front desk. I soon gave up and turned off the light.

I’ll have to try and remember the reboot trick, if there’s a next time.

From Lin Thant on October 13, 2018 :: 10:55 am

How would you ensure that users of the open access PC or the WiFi can’t access the local server?

From Skeeter Sanders on December 17, 2018 :: 6:47 pm

Another way to secure your wireless internet surfing is to install HTTPS Everywhere, a browser extension that automatically routs you to the HTTPS version of websites you visit.

If a website does not have an HTTPS version, HTTPS Everywhere will immediately alert you and ask if you wish to connect anyway. If the site is one that you visit regularly, then proceed with caution.

NOTE: HTTPS Everywhere is compatible with Google Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, but is NOT compatible with Microsoft Edge, which employs its own HTTPS router.

From bob on August 12, 2019 :: 2:51 pm

New Yahoo email format changed and it’s so limiting. Cant adjust/delete/add text, no printsize/bold/imogees etc. how can I swap back to old email style.

From OBloodyHell on October 25, 2020 :: 3:57 pm

A large percentage of time, windows needs to bring up the browser to enter a password or otherwise accept a license agreement to initiate a connection.

Of course, being a @##%#$%#$^ microsoft product, NINETY PERCENT of the time it fails to do this.

How do you FORCE imbecile windows to open the browser and do the needful?

From Josh Kirschner on October 26, 2020 :: 11:04 am

Wi-Fi networks cannot initiate opening a browser window. There would be obvious security risks to allowing a network that level of control over your computer just from connecting. If a network requires you to login on a page or agree to a license agreement for access, you must manually open your browser and attempt to access the internet to trigger the interstitial login screen.

From Samantha A. Short on March 16, 2021 :: 2:13 am

We have a team of experts who will assist you regarding router setup. We can walk you through the setup process. For better details, visit us.

From Eric on June 06, 2021 :: 2:59 am

Hello my name is Eric and here lately I have had this odd feeling that my iPhone has been compromised due to free WiFi at the hotel I stayed at for the weekend.Well little did I know that IPhones can be compromised through uncecure networks. So with that all said is there an app that a tech or an iPhone user would recommend that is legit and can relax knowing that the app is got every aspect form and category of what a hacker would use to hack or steal my Information etc….. please I really need someone that knows like say what government officials use to protect there iPhones. Thanks and remember that GOD LOVE YOU ALL and so do I. ✌️

From adam adam on January 18, 2022 :: 10:05 pm

We can use many things to secure ours devices in Public WIFI like Firewall, VPN.. but while you’re in Public WIFI that means you’re in the same line , the same room with other people who can infect you easily by some advanced tools (Kali Linux Tools ..etc), so if you have an important data, payment infos, bank, please don’t use public wifi

From Jeeva on July 23, 2022 :: 1:27 am

Since ios 14 Apple has implemented some security measures to alert you if there are any poor security trackers implied, and that safeguard your privacy on a public network.