Public Wi-Fi: use it without trusting it
Modern encryption helps. The network name can still lie.
Most websites now encrypt traffic with HTTPS, so public Wi-Fi is usually safer than its old reputation suggests. But a hotspot can still be fake, and an unencrypted page can still expose what you send.
Connect with discipline
- Confirm the network name.Ask staff or check posted signage rather than choosing the strongest familiar-looking signal.
- Look for HTTPS.A lock or “https” indicates that the connection between your browser and the site is encrypted.
- Use cellular data for sensitive work when practical.Banking, account recovery, and large payments can wait for a network you control.
- Turn off automatic joining and sharing.Disconnect when you are done, and forget networks you will not use again.
What a captive portal proves
A page asking you to accept terms or enter an email may grant internet access, but it does not prove the hotspot is trustworthy. Treat the network as shared and let HTTPS protect the traffic to each site.
The ruleA familiar network name is not identity. Confirm the hotspot, keep HTTPS on, and use your cellular connection when the stakes are high.
Primary source: FTC guidance on public Wi-Fi and encryption ↗