We have all been there. You are at a coffee shop, an airport, or a hotel, and you just need to check your email. You see a free Wi-Fi network and connect without thinking.

That convenience comes at a cost. Public Wi-Fi is notoriously insecure, and using it without precautions is like shouting your credit card number across a crowded room.

The Threat: Man-in-the-Middle (MitM)

The most common attack on public networks is the Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack. Because you are on an open network, a hacker can position themselves between your device and the router.

They can:

Intercept data packets.
Redirect you to fake banking sites.
Steal session cookies to log into your accounts.

The Evil Twin

Sometimes, the hacker doesn't even use the store's router. They set up their own router with the same name (e.g., "Starbucks_Free_WiFi"). You connect to it thinking it's legitimate, but you are actually connecting directly to the hacker's device. Everything you type goes straight to them.

How to Stay Safe

1. Use a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your traffic before it leaves your device. Even if a hacker intercepts your data, all they see is gibberish. This is your #1 defense.

2. Stick to HTTPS

Most modern browsers enforce this, but ensure you are visiting sites with that little padlock icon. HTTPS encrypts the communication between you and the website.

3. Avoid Sensitive Transactions

Don't check your bank account or buy things with your credit card on public Wi-Fi. Wait until you are on a secure mobile data connection or your home network.

4. Use Snapsend for Transfers

If you absolutely must send a sensitive file or password to a colleague while working remotely, don't use plain email. Use Snapsend. We encrypt your data locally (client-side) before it even hits the network. A hacker sniffing the Wi-Fi traffic will only see an encrypted blob, not your password.

Stay alert. Free Wi-Fi is great, but your privacy is priceless.