5 ways to protect your personal information when using public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi allows people to connect to the internet without using their mobile data. It is available in places such as airports, hotels, restaurants, libraries, shopping centres and other public spaces. For people who want to save money on data or need an internet connection while away from home, these networks can be convenient.

However, connecting to a public Wi-Fi network without taking precautions can expose your personal information to security risks. 

Depending on how the network is configured and how you use it, attackers may attempt to intercept unprotected communications, create fake Wi-Fi hotspots or trick users into visiting fraudulent websites.

Your personal information may include your email address, passwords, financial details, private messages and other information stored on your device. 

If criminals obtain some of these details, they may attempt to access your accounts, impersonate you or commit financial fraud. Using public Wi-Fi does not automatically mean your information will be stolen. Nevertheless, taking a few precautions can help reduce the risks.

In this article, Tribune Online highlights five ways to protect your personal information when using public Wi-Fi.

Connect only to trusted Wi-Fi networks

Before connecting to a public Wi-Fi network, confirm  that it belongs to the establishment providing the service. For example, if you are in a hotel, restaurant or airport, ask an employee for the official network name. This is important because cybercriminals can create fake hotspots with names similar to those of legitimate networks. An unsuspecting user may connect to one of these networks, believing it is safe.

For instance, a criminal could create a hotspot with a name that closely resembles the official Wi-Fi network of a restaurant. If you select the wrong network, you may expose yourself to attempts to monitor your activity or redirect you to fraudulent websites. Avoid connecting to unfamiliar networks simply because they do not require a password. An open network is not necessarily malicious, but the absence of a password does not make it trustworthy.

You should also be cautious when a public Wi-Fi network asks you to provide unnecessary personal information before granting access. 

Some legitimate networks use sign-in pages, but you should be wary of requests for sensitive details such as your bank card information or account passwords. If you are unsure whether a network is genuine, ask the establishment’s staff to confirm its name and connection procedure.

Avoid sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi

Although many websites and applications use encryption to protect information in transit, you should be careful when carrying out sensitive activities on public Wi-Fi. Avoid accessing your bank account, entering payment card details or conducting other financial transactions on an unfamiliar public network when you can use a more trusted connection instead.

For example, if you need to transfer money through your banking application, consider switching to your mobile data connection. You should also avoid entering your passwords on websites reached through suspicious links or unexpected pop-ups. 

If you must access a sensitive account, use the official application or type the website address yourself rather than following a link from an unknown source.

ALSO READ: 5 things to do immediately after your ATM card is stolen

 Check that the website address is correct and that the connection uses HTTPS. The padlock symbol and HTTPS indicate an encrypted connection, but they do not prove that a website is legitimate. Remember that a fake website can also use HTTPS. Always confirm that you are dealing with the genuine service before entering your details.

Do not assume that every activity on public Wi-Fi is visible to other users. Properly encrypted services can protect much of the information exchanged. 

However, avoiding sensitive transactions on unfamiliar networks reduces your exposure to certain risks.

If your mobile data is available, using it for banking and other sensitive activities is a practical precaution.

Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication

Your passwords are among the most important pieces of information you need to protect online. If someone gains access to one of your accounts, they may try the same password on other platforms.

Avoid using the same password for your email, social media, banking-related services and other online accounts. Instead, create a different, strong password for each important account.

A password manager can help you generate and store unique passwords without requiring you to memorise all of them. You should also protect your primary email account because it may be used to reset passwords for other services. 

Another useful precaution is enabling two-factor authentication , also known as 2FA, wherever it is available. This adds another verification step beyond your password. Depending on the service, this could involve an authenticator application, a security key or a verification code.

Two-factor authentication can make it more difficult for someone to access your account using a stolen password alone. 

However, it is not a guarantee against every attack. Criminals may still attempt to trick users into revealing verification codes or approving fraudulent login requests. 

Never share your password, one-time password (OTP), banking PIN or authentication code with someone who contacts you unexpectedly. A person claiming to be a bank employee or internet service provider should not be given these details simply because they sound convincing.

Keep your device updated and turn off unnecessary connections

Your phone or laptop also plays an important role in protecting your personal information. Devices running outdated software may have security weaknesses that attackers can exploit.

Install operating system and application updates when they become available, especially security updates.

Use a screen lock, such as a PIN, password or biometric authentication, to prevent unauthorised access if your device is lost or stolen.

When connecting to public Wi-Fi, turn off automatic connection to unknown networks. This helps prevent your device from connecting to a potentially unsafe hotspot without your knowledge. You should also disable file sharing and other network-sharing features when they are not needed. On a laptop, check that your device is not unnecessarily sharing files with other devices on the network.

Avoid downloading applications, software updates or files from unfamiliar pop-ups while using public Wi-Fi. Install applications through official app stores or obtain software from the developer’s verified website. 

A virtual private network (VPN) can provide an additional layer of protection by encrypting traffic between your device and the VPN service. 

However, a VPN does not make every online activity safe. It does not automatically protect you from phishing, fake websites, malicious downloads or weak passwords. 

If you use a VPN, choose a reputable provider and understand its privacy policy. Do not assume that every free VPN offers the same level of security or privacy. These steps help reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your device and information.

Log out of accounts and forget public networks after use

Once you finish using public Wi-Fi, disconnect from the network, especially if you will not need it again. On your device, you can also select the option to forget the network so that it does not reconnect automatically in the future.

If you use a shared computer rather than your own device, be especially careful. 

Avoid saving passwords in the browser, and always log out of your accounts before leaving. Close the browser after logging out, and do not leave personal files or downloaded documents behind. 

When using your own phone or laptop, review any sign-in prompts carefully. If you receive an unexpected notification that someone is trying to access your account, do not approve it unless you initiated the login.

You should also monitor your important accounts for unfamiliar login alerts or suspicious activity. If you suspect that your information has been exposed, change the affected password using the official service, sign out of other active sessions where possible and enable additional security measures.

If the incident involves your bank account or payment details, contact your bank through its verified channels immediately. Do not use a phone number or link supplied in a suspicious message. Finally, remember that public Wi-Fi security depends on several factors, including the network, your device, the websites you visit and the information you share.