Public Wi‑Fi is convenient, free, and often available in cafes, hotels, airports, libraries, stations, and shopping centers.

But when it comes to sensitive transactions, like accessing your bank account, making payments, or entering passwords, a public network can become a risk.

Not all open Wi‑Fi networks are dangerous, but the problem is that users often cannot know for sure who manages them, how they are configured, or if someone is attempting to intercept traffic.

Why public Wi‑Fi can be risky

A public network is shared by many people. This means unknown devices may be on the same network and, in some cases, attempt to observe, manipulate, or redirect traffic.

The risk increases when the network does not require a password, is not properly encrypted, or has a name similar to that of a legitimate business.

Fake hotspots

One of the most common techniques is the fake hotspot, also called an “evil twin.”

A malicious actor can create a network with a name similar to that of the venue, for example “Bar_WiFi_Free” or “WiFi_Clienti,” luring people to connect.

Once connected, the user could be redirected to fake pages, fraudulent login portals, or sites designed to steal credentials.

Intercepted traffic

On insecure public networks, some information can be exposed more easily, especially if the visited sites do not use encrypted connections or if the user ignores browser security warnings.

Therefore, it is important to always check for HTTPS and not enter sensitive data if the site shows invalid certificates, errors, or abnormal behaviors.

Phishing and fake pages

Another risk concerns phishing.

While browsing on a public network, the user might end up on pages that imitate real services: bank, email, social networks, or payment platforms.

The goal is to push the victim to enter usernames, passwords, PINs, OTP codes, or card data.

Session hijacking

In some scenarios, an attacker can try to exploit unprotected sessions or weak configurations to interfere with access to online services.

Even though many modern services use advanced protections, it remains good practice to avoid sensitive operations when connected to untrusted public networks.

What to avoid on public Wi‑Fi

When connected to a public network, avoid:

  • accessing online banking;
  • making online payments;
  • entering important passwords;
  • typing PINs or OTP codes;
  • accessing sensitive corporate accounts;
  • downloading files from unverified sources;
  • ignoring browser security warnings.

How to protect yourself

The safest solution is to use your phone’s mobile network when you need to access your bank or perform sensitive operations.

Alternatively, you can use a personal hotspot, carefully check the exact network name, always verify HTTPS, and use a reliable VPN.

A VPN can help protect traffic from the local network but does not automatically make a fake site safe. If you enter credentials on a phishing page, the VPN cannot protect you from that mistake.

Best practices

To reduce risks:

  • use the mobile network for banking and payments;
  • verify the exact network name;
  • avoid open networks with generic names;
  • always check for HTTPS;
  • do not ignore browser warnings;
  • use a reliable VPN;
  • keep smartphones and browsers updated;
  • enable two-factor authentication on important services;
  • disconnect from the public network when not needed.

Conclusion

Public Wi‑Fi can be useful for browsing, reading news, or consulting non-sensitive information.

But it is not the right place to access your bank account, enter important passwords, or manage payments.

Free Wi‑Fi can cost you dearly.

Browse comfortably, but don’t let your guard down.