Public Wi-Fi in a cafe, hotel, airport, or library is safe enough for everyday browsing, but it is not the same as your home network. You are sharing it with strangers, and the network itself may be poorly set up. That does not mean you should never use it. It means you should know what to check before you connect, what to avoid while you are on it, and what to do when you leave.
Check the network before you connect
Ask a member of staff for the exact name of the network, and connect only to that one. Attackers sometimes set up a network with a name very close to the real one and hope someone joins it by mistake. If your device shows two networks with almost the same name, pick the one the staff confirmed.
Be wary of networks that ask for card details or an app download before you can browse. A voucher code is normal in a hotel; a request for card details to use free Wi-Fi is not. Our pillar article on how to stay safe online: the habits that actually protect you covers the wider habits that protect you on any network.
What to avoid on public Wi-Fi
On a network you do not trust, avoid signing in to banking or work accounts that hold sensitive files. Save those tasks for your home network or your mobile data. Make sure the sites you visit use a secure connection: the address should start with https, and your browser should show a padlock. If your browser warns you that a connection is not private, do not continue past the warning.
A virtual private network, or VPN, encrypts the traffic between your device and the internet, so others on the same network cannot easily see what you are doing. It is useful on public Wi-Fi, but it is not a magic shield: it does not make a scam message safe. A common mistake we see is people turning on a VPN and then behaving as if the network is now private. Our article on how to spot phishing messages before you click explains the messages that target travellers, and our piece on strong passwords and passkeys, explained in plain English covers the passwords that protect your accounts.
Useful habits for travel and shared networks
- Use mobile data for sensitive tasks: banking and work sign-ins are safer on your phone's data connection than on a shared network.
- Turn off automatic connection: set your phone to ask before joining new networks, so it does not join an unknown one on its own.
- Keep sharing off: turn off file sharing and AirDrop-style sharing while you are on a public network.
- Forget the network afterwards: remove it from your saved networks when you leave, so your device does not reconnect next time you pass by.
Keep your device updated before you travel, and make sure your files are backed up before you leave. Our article on back up computer files shows a simple routine, and our piece on how to keep your kids safer online covers the settings worth checking on a child's device before a trip.
Key takeaways
- Ask staff for the exact network name, and do not join a lookalike network.
- Avoid banking and sensitive sign-ins on public Wi-Fi — use mobile data instead.
- Check for https and a padlock, and do not continue past a browser warning.
- A VPN helps on public networks, but it is not a magic shield.
- Turn off automatic connection and sharing, and forget the network when you leave.
Frequently asked questions
Is public Wi-Fi safe?
It is safe enough for browsing and reading, but it is shared with strangers, so avoid banking and other sensitive sign-ins on it. Use mobile data for those tasks, and make sure sites use a secure connection.
Does a VPN make public Wi-Fi completely safe?
No. A VPN encrypts your traffic on the network, which helps a lot, but it does not protect you from scam messages, fake sites, or a device that is already infected. Keep the other habits in place too.
Should I use hotel Wi-Fi?
Yes, for everyday browsing, as long as you confirm the network name with staff and avoid sensitive sign-ins. If you need to do banking, switch to mobile data instead.
How do I stop my phone joining unknown networks?
Turn off automatic connection to new networks in your phone's Wi-Fi settings, and forget public networks after you use them so your phone does not reconnect on its own.
Public Wi-Fi is a convenience, not a risk to avoid entirely. Check the network name, save the sensitive tasks for mobile data or home, and forget the network when you leave.
